Finn told Sky Sports Ashes: “We knew there was a lot of hard work to do today, so to get that lead and then put that pressure on as group of bowlers was fantastic. It was technical stuff – he thought I was just putting the ball there during the Lord’s game so I’ve worked on finishing my action a bit more”.
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“My first over went for 14 but after that I settled in well 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.
Anderson left the field with a side strain, and will be assessed overnight to determine the seriousness of the injury.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed nothing beyond “a tight side”, and Finn added: “No news, I’ve heard nothing yet”.
“For Jimmy to walk off halfway through an over can’t be too good”, he said.
“Historically England do bounce back after a heavy defeat but the Australian’s will want to do the same in the next Test”.
But despite averaging more than 100 for county champions Yorkshire this season, Bairstow was dismissed for just five as he gloved a brute of a rising ball from Johnson to wicket-keeper Peter Nevill.
England bowler Steve Finn celebrates a wicket 2015.
“We’ve got to stop this rot, it’s not looking promising for us at the moment but a t one stage it looked like we might get bowled out and not take it to a second innings for them. We got edges and a few poor shots so there is a possibility of bowling better than that, which is really exciting”.
“It’s been a mad Test match but an enjoyable one”.
James Anderson shows off the “cherry” after his five-for.
England must win outright to win back the Ashes, while Australia only need a draw to retain the urn.
Stuart Broad took two wickets, as did Steven Finn, who was on his return from a two-year absence from Test cricket.
The tail all made it into double figures but could not prevent an unusually low score from Michael Clarke’s side.
With a deficit of 145, Australia got off to the worst possible start, with first innings top-scorer Chris Rogers caught LBW to Broad for just 6.
But he was near unplayable at times on Thursday as he dismissed both Steven Smith and struggling Clarke for the second time in the match.
In keeping with the manic pace of this match, Mooen then upper-cut Hazlewood to third man as the final three wickets fell for four runs in less than three overs.
But after Broad (31) skied Josh Hazlewood to mid-on, Moeen quickly followed and the innings ended tamely.
It was not obvious that either Jonny Bairstow, to his first ball from Johnson, or Ben Stokes to his second could have done anything much different to avoid gloving behind two brutish short deliveries. Jos Buttler came in for one ball in the same over – also a bouncer – but survived.
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Joe Root with 63 top-scored for England who were boosted by an entertaining eighth-wicket stand of 87 between Moeen Ali (59) and Broad (31).
