Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc showed up Australia’s top-order batsmen with defiant 50s as England were left with a target of 121 to win the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston yesterday.
Wicketkeeper Nevill (59) and fast bowler Starc (58) combined in an eighth-wicket stand of 64 during Australia’s second innings of 265 all out.
They also managed to do something that eluded five members of Australia’s top six in the innings by reaching double figures, with left-handed opener David Warner’s 77 the only major contribution by a specialist batsman.
Photo: AP
England fast bowler Steven Finn, recalled for his first Test in two years following an injury to Mark Wood, led the attack with his best figures at this level of 6-79.
Finn’s return surpassed his previous Test best of 6-125 against Australia at Brisbane in 2010.
In the two overs of their reply that were possible before lunch, England moved to 4-0.
England suffered a setback before play started when James Anderson, their all-time most successful Test bowler, was ruled out of the remainder of this match and next week’s fourth Test at Trent Bridge with a side strain.
Anderson, whose Ashes-best 6-47 in Australia’s meager first innings of 136 extended his record England haul to 413 Test wickets, suffered the injury while bowling on Thursday.
Australia resumed on their overnight total of 168-7, with Nevill on 37 and Starc on 7.
Nevill’s leg-glanced boundary off Finn saw him to a maiden Test 50 in only his second match at this level.
Having survived one appeal for a catch on 53 by opposing wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, Nevill eventually fell in similar fashion when the diving England gloveman held a stunning one-handed chance, high to his left.
Nevill reviewed umpire Aleem Dar’s decision, but replays confirmed a thin inside edge.
Starc continued to strike the ball well and his straight six off spinner Moeen Ali saw the left-hander to his 50.
It also gave Australia a lead of 100, but they then lost their ninth wicket when Josh Hazlewood (11) was caught.
Ali ended the innings when he had Starc caught in the covers.
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