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Ashes 2023 | Edgbaston Test Evenly-Poised As Rain Plays Spoilsport On Day 3

image-lj1ptp3fCovers on at Edgbaston on day 3 (AP Photo)

The first Ashes Test match at Edgbaston has taken an interesting turn despite rain playing spoilsport for the most part of day 3. England lead by 35 runs in their second innings with eight wickets in hand and the match can go either way on what is expected to be a cracking day 4.

The day 3 started with Australia looking to gain a big lead with Khawaja and Carey looking well-settled but the wicket of Carey triggered a collapse and Australia ended up giving up a 7-run lead to England at the end of the first session with Ollie Robinson and Broad making a big impact.

The second session started with high hopes for England but with rain breaks and overcast conditions on offer, England batters were put under the pump. They lost two wickets in the 63 balls bowled in their second innings and it is upto the pair of Root and Pope to take them to safer shores now.

Talking Points of Day 3

Spirited English bowling performance

Australia were well on their course to take a good first innings lead and were 338-5 at one point in time. However, James Anderson, the ageless wonder produced a peach of a delivery to knock over Carey which eventually triggered a collapse.

England used bodyline ploy nicely and the combined effort made sure that Australian tail is wiped out quickly. Eventually, Australia were bowled out for 386, making some sense of Stokes courageous declaration on day 1 of a Test match.

20 minutes of hell for England

England openers started decently in the second session but soon rain came into steal their momentum. They did get a chance to regain that momentum when the play resumed but the conditions were different this time - it was dark with good typical English conditions with ball darting around.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett eventually failed against the relentless accuracy of Cummins and Boland  and England were reduced for 27-2. They could muster one more run before rain decided to take the centrestage yet again. However, the 20 minutes of play between the resumption of play after first rain break and the second, brought Australia back in the game and England are now left to do some hardwork when they return on the field for day 4.

Expectations from day 4

England Bazball tactics will be thoroughly tested on day 4 and the first session will be critical for both the teams. If the conditions remain overcast on day 4, then we can expect Aussie bowlers to dominate proceedings and restrict England to a low total.

Brief Scores

England: 393 (First Innings)

Australia: 386 (First innings) 

England: 28-2 (10.3) (Second innings)

Ben Duckett - 19 (28), Zak Crawley - 7 (25)

Scott Boland -  1/1 (2), Pat Cummins - 1/9 (5.3)

England lead by 35 runs!

England lead by seven runs.