Third Investec Ashes
Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham, July 29-31, 2015
Warwickshire’s home
ground Edgbaston in Birmingham hosted the third Ashes Test and England, after
suffering a humiliating defeat at Lord’s made a couple of changes in their
playing Xi. Bairstow replaced Ballance and Finn earned a Test recall in place
of Wood. Australia, on the other hand retained Peter Nevill, keeping Haddin out
of the side and Chris Rogers was fit to play, putting to rest all the injury
concerns and the drama surrounding whether he would play or not. The pitch at
Birmingham looked greener and in spite of overcast conditions, Michael Clarke
after winning the toss, elected to bat first. David Warner, after surviving the
run-out scare was trapped in front of the wickets in the very third over of the
match and Australia were 7/1. Steven Finn, who was making a comeback in English
Test side after two long years made early inroads as he not only accounted for
Lord’s double centurion S Smith but also Aussie captain Michael Clarke. Clarke
was bowled off a Finn Yorker and his dismissal was similar to his own dismissal,
co-incidentally at the same venue in the 2005 Ashes series and Steve Harmison
was the bowler back then. With Smith and Clarke back in the hut cheaply, Australia
were reduced to 34/3 and England were clearly on top. Rain interruption curtailed
the morning session as only 19 overs were bowled and Australia were 72/3 at
lunch on Day 1. Following lunch, after some more rain interruption, play
finally resumed and Anderson wrecked havoc as he dismissed Voges, Mitch Marsh,
Nevill and Johnson in space of just 17 runs and Australia collapsed to 94/7. Anderson
showed why he is one of the best swing bowler as he put on display classic
spell of swing bowling with a mix of in swingers and out swingers that
completely bamboozled the Australian batsmen. In the midst of all the chaos,
veteran batsman Chris Rogers hold the fort from one end and brought up his
patient half century. But, soon after getting to his fifty, Rogers played down
the wrong line and missed a straight one from Broad and was out LBW for
52.England, soon cleaned up the tail as Australia were shot out just for 136 on
Day 1 and Anderson returned with figures of 6/47.
After a dismal show at
Lord’s, English bowlers made a grand comeback and now it was the turn of
batsmen to deliver. Adam Lyth’s poor series continued as he flashed at a wide
one and Voges managed to hold on to a catch at first slip after initial fumble
and England were 19/1.With Garry Ballance dropped, Bell was assigned the new
No.3 position and he was hoping that change in batting order would bring change
to his fortunes and he desperately needed some runs to keep his place in the
side. Bell looked determined and positive from the word go. Cook and Bell
brought up their 50-run partnership with flurry of boundaries as England were comfortably
cruising towards Australia’s 136. But, with England at 76/1, Cook was facing
Lyon and Voges took a sensational catch at short leg to get rid of England
captain. Cook was in complete disbelief but had to depart for 34. Bell was in
full flow and brought up his fifty just of 51 balls with a classic cover drive
as crowd applauded his fighting effort. Bell needed that fifty, England
desperately wanted Bell to get back in form and Bell didn’t let the selectors
down not only for backing him but also entrusting him with crucial No.3 position.
However, Bell couldn’t see the day off as he was dismissed at the very fag end
of the day for 53. Bell, dancing down the wicket to Lyon was beaten in flight
and miscued the ball straight into the air and Warner took a good catch running
backwards. Rain brought an end to day’s play and at stumps on day 1, England
were in a commanding position at 133/3,trailing just by 3 runs, with Root and
Bairstow unbeaten on 30 and 1 respectively.
After completely
dominating the rain-marred day 1, it was important for England to build on the
momentum on day 2 as well, but, Johnson had some other ideas and in the very
second over of the day, England suffered two crucial setbacks.
Bairstow became
Johnson’s 300th Test scalp and Stokes 301st as both of
them found Johnson’s rising delivery extremely uncomfortable and England who
resumed the day at 133/3 were reduced to 142/5. Root continued his rich vein of
form and brought up his fifty at better than run a ball. But, on 63, Root
suffered a lapse in concentration as he chased a wide one from Starc and was
caught at first slip by Voges. Buttler too, fell soon after Root’s dismissal
and England were in a bit of bother at 190/7, leading Australia just by 54
runs. Moeen Ali and Broad found a way to survive and went into lunch unseparated
and England were 221/7, leading by 85 runs. The session though, belonged to Australia
as they were able to rip 4 English wickets and Johnson spearheaded the Aussie
fightback. After lunch, Ali and Broad played well and stitched a vital 87-run
stand before Broad fell to Hazlewood for 31. Hazlewood also got rid of Moeen
Ali for 59 and England were bowled out for 281, bagging an useful lead of 145
runs. With a tally of 281, England could well blame themselves for missed opportunity
of piling huge first innings score considering their positon at 133/3, but, at
the same time, could well call themselves lucky to reach that far as at one
point of time, they were tottering at 190/7.
 |
| Johnson celebrates his 300th Test scalp |
With a deficit of 145
runs, Australia needed a big opening partnership in their 2nd
innings, but, it was not to be as they suffered an early setback when Rogers
was trapped in front just for 6 and Australia were 1/17. With in-form Rogers
gone and middle order fragile, now the responsibility rested on the shoulders
of flamboyant Warner and the man in his purple patch, S Smith. S Smith played
patiently before Steven Finn’s rising delivery climbed on him and was unable to
control the pull shot and the ball went straight up in the air and keeper
Buttler did the rest. At the other end though, it was an altogether different
story as Warner raced to his fifty just off 35 balls, equaling fastest Ashes
fifty and his hit to the fence off the last ball before Tea signaled complete
warner dominance as Australia took Tea at 73/2, still trailing by 72 runs. In
the evening session, Finn ripped through Australia’s middle order as he got rid
of out of form Clarke and Voges off consecutive deliveries. Mitchell Marsh became
Finn’s next scalp as the ball passed through his defenses and was cleaned
bowled as Australia once again, similar to first innings, collapsed to 92/5.
Warner, Australia’s last hope and the man who played so well, departed for 77,
trying to pull a ball that wasn’t short enough and Australia found themselves
in complete doldrums at 111/6, still 34 runs away from making England bat
again.
Johnson showed some resilience and tried to hang on along with wicket-keeper
Nevill, but, became Finn’s 5th scalp as he too tried to pull a ball
that wasn’t short enough and was dismissed in a similar fashion as that of
warner for 14. Peter Nevill, just in his 2nd Test, showed some
application and remained unbeaten at the end of day’s play as Australia were
168/7, effectively 23/7 at stumps on day2.
 |
| Anderson left the field on Day 2 with a side strain |
Peter Nevill, who
resumed Day 3 on 37, recorded his maiden Test fifty with a tickle down the leg
side and was well supported by No.9 Mitchell Starc. The stand between Starc and
Nevill ended when Nevill was caught down the leg-side for well-made 59 and
Australia were 217/8. Starc too brought up his fifty with a six over long-on
and Australia’s lead reached exactly 100. Root took a stunning catch in the
slip cordon to get rid of Hazlewood and Australia were nine down for 245. Moeen
Ali’s slow, well-flighted delivery did the trick as Starc was the last man to
go for 58 and Australia were bowled out for 265, setting England 121 runs to
win.
 |
| Finn returned with figures of 6/79 in second innings |
Just 121 runs separated
England from victory and a 2-1 lead and their performance with the bat in
second innings, especially from Bell and Root was as dominant and authoritative
as you could ever get. England suffered two early blows in the form of Cook and
Lyth, but, once Bell and Root got together, they were unstoppable. Bell was at
his flamboyant best and brought up his second fifty of the match with his
trademark shot, guiding the ball through vacant gully region for a crisp
boundary. Root hit the winning runs as England brought up an emphatic
eight-wicket victory in just two and half days and continued their great run at
Edgbaston. The victory gave England a 2-1 lead and showed their immense
character as they bounced back from hopeless defeat at Lord’s to an emphatic
victory at Edgbaston. Finn for his 6 wickets in 2nd innings was
declared as the player of the match.
 |
| Root and Bell ecstatic after their dominant victory |
SCORES:
AUSTRALIA 136
& 265
ENGLAND 281
& 124/2
ENGLAND WON by 8
wickets.
ENGLAND LEAD the ASHES
2-1.
Man of the Match: S
Finn.
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