Finn, back for his first Test in two years after much-chronicled technical problems, took 5-45 as Australia stumbled to 168-7 by stumps on day two – a lead of only 23, despite opener David Warner’s defiant 77.
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“Obviously some personal milestones that were nice to get over…to put a test shirt back on”.
“I soon settled though and bowled some decent balls”.
The Middlesex paceman had been in the wilderness, so far as Test duty had been concerned, after being dropped following an off-target spell in the 2013 Ashes series opener at Trent Bridge.
“It was one of those innings you had to fight for everything”.
After Warner was sixth out, skying an attempted flick to leg off the returning James Anderson to cover, England lost their all-time leading wicket-taker to a worrying side injury which saw him leave the field wincing mid-over.
Later, England and Wales Cricket Board mentioned in a tweet that the pace spearhead “has a tight side”.
“But pulling up halfway through an over, for someone like Jimmy, he wouldn’t stop like that if it wasn’t hurting”.
Anderson admitted poor shots were a big factor in Australia’s first-day misery.
“Unless we get those three wickets tomorrow and knock off the runs we’ll look pretty silly talking about it now”, Finn said.
England bowler Steve Finn celebrates a wicket 2015. If we get 120-30 we’ve got to have a really hard crack.
Australia’s Mitchell Johnson (R) looks towards England’s James Anderson as he reacts after i …
Anderson, who endured the rare experience of a wicketless Test as Australia levelled the Investec series at Lord’s, was back with six for 47 in the tourists’ 136 all out on day one of the third Investec Test.
In removing Bairstow, Johnson joined Shane Warne as only the second Australian to score 2,000 Test runs and 300 wickets and became the fifth bowler behind Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee and Brett Lee to take that many scalps for their country.
David Warner’s belligerent 56 not out, made off 37 deliveries, gave the touring side hope while captain Michael Clarke, desperately searching for form, was unbeaten on two at the interval.
Australia’s fragility was ruthlessly exposed by Finn after Chris Rogers was trapped lbw for six to Stuart Broad. Finn took over, dismissing Steven Smith and Michael Clarke for the second time in the match.
Rogers was eighth man out for 52 and not long after Australia were dismissed in 36.4 overs.
The pair added fast runs after lunch, Moeen once more displaying how worthwhile he’s coming in at quantity eight.
But after Broad (31) skied Josh Hazlewood to mid-on, Moeen quickly followed and the innings ended tamely. He will resume on Thursday in partnership with the recalled Jonny Bairstow.
Two balls later, a similar delivery saw Ben Stokes caught behind for a duck and England were 142 for five.
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Two balls later Stokes additionally acquired a style of “chin-music”, unable to get out of the best way of one other thunderbolt and falling in the identical style.
