England in front in Ashes Test

Updated on: 01 August,2009 07:56 AM IST |
AFP |

Pace duo of Anderson and Onions share nine Aussie wickets to give England an upper hand at Edgbaston

Pace duo of Anderson and Onions share nine Aussie wickets to give England an upper hand at Edgbaston

Anderson celebrates a wicket. pic/Getty images

Overcast conditions offered just enough late movement for the pair, who exploited the Australian batsmen's vulnerability against the swinging ball.

Australia, who had been 126 for one overnight, collapsed in spectacular style with both Anderson (five wickets for 80 runs in 24 overs) and Onions (four for 58 in 16.4) taking their Ashes Test-best figures.

England captain Andrew Strauss, whose 161 helped propel the hosts to a 115-run second Test win at Lord's, consolidated the seamers' work with another fine innings of 64 not out before bad light forced an early close.

At stumps, England, 1-0 ahead in the series, were 116 for two, a deficit of 147, with Ian Bell, returning to Test cricket on his Warwickshire home ground after Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles injury, unbeaten on 26. But Bell was fortunate not to fall lbw to Mitchell Johnson on 18. It looked as if the struggling left-arm quick, whose eight series wickets before this match had cost an expensive 41 runs apiece, had bowled the perfect in-swinger.

But umpire Rudi Koertzen, who gave some key decisions against Australia at Lord's, ruled in favour of the batsman with replays suggesting the sound of Bell's bat clipping the pad may have misled the veteran official.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels