Aust skittled by Anderson’s Ashes best

Jimmy Anderson has snared the best figures of his Ashes career to help roll Australia for 136 in the third Test.

Anderson finished with 6-57 from 14.4 overs in Birmingham, bouncing back in remarkable fashion after failing to take a wicket in the second Test.

England were 0-7 in response when tea was called early due to Wednesday’s third rain interruption.

Australia levelled the series at Lord’s but the momentum generated from that 405-run victory evaporated in the space of an hour at Edgbaston.

Chris Rogers was a picture of composure until Stuart Broad trapped him lbw for a well-made 52.

The 37-year-old, who had been in doubt for the clash after retiring hurt in the second Test due to a dizzy spell, showed the grit required.

However, he received scant support as England needed only three bowlers and 36.4 overs to end Australia’s first innings.

The tourists collapsed to 3-34 then recovered to be 3-72 at lunch on day one.

But Anderson scuppered thoughts of a genuine fightback, snaring 4-7 in the space of 19 balls.

It was a magnificent display of swing and seam movement, coupled with some questionable shot selection – or lack of selection in the case of Adam Voges and Peter Nevill.

Voges attempted to leave a wide delivery but failed to get his bat out of the way and was caught behind for 16.

Nevill was out for two when he shouldered arms to a ball that kissed the top of off stump.

Mitch Marsh and Mitchell Johnson fell for zero and three amid the carnage.

Marsh was caught behind, powerfully driving at the third delivery he faced.

Anderson went around the wicket to dismiss Johnson, with a thick edge flying to Ben Stokes at fourth slip.

The tail wagged to ensure Australia passed 118, the total they were skittled for at the same venue in 1997.

Fittingly, Anderson ended the innings when Nathan Lyon played on.

England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker started the rot with the scalp of David Warner, who was trapped on the back foot and rapped on the pads.

Warner opted to review Chris Gaffaney’s lbw decision but replays confirmed it was out.

Rogers also queried Aleem Dar’s verdict but with just as much success.

Steve Smith was dismissed by Steve Finn for seven, his lowest score in the first innings of a Test since December 2013.

Finn, who had not played a Test since being belted all over Trent Bridge in the 2013 Ashes, then removed Michael Clarke with a cracking yorker.

Clarke lasted 15 minutes and 10 balls – scoring 10 and engaging in a short slanging match with Anderson and Stokes that prompted Dar to intervene.

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