3rd Investec Test: England vs Australia at Edgbaston

The series is tied up at 1-1. The latest reports suggest Mark Wood will not play due to his ankle injury and Steven Finn will replace him. If true, that is bad news for England. By contrast, Chris Rogers appears as though he will play.

Steve Smith needs 74 more runs to reach 3000 Test runs, and if he gets there in this match he will become the third-fastest Australian to reach the milestone, behind only Don Bradman and Neil Harvey.

Stuart Broad and Mitchell Johnson are both looking to join the elusive company of players to achieve the Test double of 2000 runs and 300 wickets. Broad has 296 wickets and 2353 runs; Johnson has 299 wickets and 1999 runs.

Finn does indeed come in for Wood. Australia win the toss and elect to have a bat. Neither is good news for England. I'll be thrilled if England can just take this to the final day of play.

Jimmy strikes in his second over. Warner out plumb in front and wastes a review to boot. Australia 7/1.

Finn into the attack and gets the prize wicket of Steve Smith in his first over. Finn probing that corridor of uncertainty and Smith couldn't leave it alone. Australia 18/2.

A second wicket for Finn. Clarke bowled all ends up. Australia 34/3.

Australia 72/3 at lunch.

99 - 7  after 29 . 2 overs

Rogers 50*,Jimmeh 5Fer : Last 10 overs : 27/4    :-[

Match delayed by rain - Day 1

108 - 7 after 31

Starc is the fourth batsman to reach double figures today
  30.4
Anderson to Starc, FOUR, on length now outside off, he drives away from the body and chips that over the in field on the off side
 

110 - 8

31.2
Broad to Rogers, the finger goes up instantly, Rogers lbw this time on the back foot, and he reviews.

From round the wicket the ball angled in from back of length, Rogers stuck on his crease to work the ball to leg, he misses and is trapped

right in front of middle stump. No inside edge, what does Hawkeye say?  Hitting and Rogers walks back


CJL Rogers lbw b Broad 52

119 - 9 after 34 overs

33.3
Broad to Starc,  another late leave and that's number nine, and second for Broad! It was touch back of length outside off,
Starc wanted to leave that ball but withdrew his bat too late and he toe-edged it to the keeper

Starc c †Buttler b Broad 11