England have managed to snuff out the tail quickly after dislodging the brilliant Usman Khawaja. Australia’s lower-order couldn’t quite tackle the short ball ploy that was enforced by the hosts, and the lead that seemed likely for the visitors at one point hasn’t quite materialised.
James Anderson have England an early breakthrough in the form of half-centurion Alex Carey early on the third morning, going right through his defence after Jonny Bairstow shelled another chance. Ollie Robinson brought an end to Khawaja’s hard-working knock, dismantling the off-stump with a pinpoint yorker. He danced down premeditatedly, then tried to squeeze it out but missed. The southpaw walked back to a standing ovation from the Edgbaston crowd after scoring 141 off 321 balls, his maiden century in England.
That opened the floodgates as Stuart Broad and Robinson blew the lower order away. It’s a one-innings shootout from hereon. The pitch remains anodyne and all the pace seems to have gone out of it. Nathan Lyon will look to extract the most out of the rough patches created by the bowlers’ footmarks. The pitch is also very dry and should offer more turn.
Ben Stokes can barely watch 🙈
But Ben Duckett takes the catch and Australia are 8 down!#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/iOhOPrgRO5
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 18, 2023
