BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Jimmy Anderson is amazing… and it was great timing for the Aussies

England were left cursing their luck after losing both openers under dark skies in a 20-minute spell that may have altered the course of the first Ashes Test.

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley fell in successive overs on the third afternoon as they battled fiercely difficult batting conditions and an Australian attack intent on seizing its chance.

The pair had walked out at Edgbaston under thick, dark skies after a 75-minute rain delay and failed to survive a mini-session that saw 22 balls bowled, two runs scored and two wickets fall under the floodlights.

Mail Sport’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd takes you through the day’s action from Edgbaston.

ANDERSON’S AMAZING 

Let me tell you a story. In 2002, a fresh-faced lad from Burnley made his debut for Lancashire and rattled up at 90MPH but he was all over the place. 

No direction, no length but pace. 1100 first-class wickets later, he’s still bowling for England at the grand old age of 40. What a journey. What an adventure for a lad from Burnley.

Jimmy Anderson is still playing at the top level more than 20 years after his Lancashire debut

WARWICKSHIRE ARE CLASS ACTS

I have to say that when it comes to putting Test matches on, Warwickshire do it so well. I popped into the Chairman’s Lounge and was thrilled to see Dennis Amiss – a wonderful legend of Warwickshire and England, who is now Club President. It’s fantastic when a club recognises the life of the players. It was also brilliant to see Australia legend Jeff Thomson alongside his lifelong mate and former England striker Mick Harford. A battering ram of a centre forward and Thomson – a scourge of many a batsmen. What a deadly combination.

DIFFERENT SPIN STRATEGIES

Nathan Lyon knew what was coming and for the majority of England’s first innings, he had a deep long-on and a deep long-off. 

Across 33 overs, Moeen Ali did not employ those positions, encouraging the batter to hit down the ground and they obliged. He went for 147 runs and combined, the two spinners shared first-innings figures of 62 overs, 296 runs and six wickets. 

But as this pitch deteriorates, England will desperately hope Moeen is able to bowl in the second innings, despite the troublesome blister on his spinning finger.

SOME MEMORABLE KNOCKS

The 12th men of both teams were working overtime, running on in their hi-viz jackets. It reminded me of Viggo Venn who won Britain’s Got Talent. 

Of course, Britain’s Got Talent took over from Opportunity Knocks and who can forget the chap who won it week after week, even though he never said a word nor sung a word. He just came on in his underpants and moved his muscles around. The Musical Muscle Man! Tony Holland was his name.

GREAT TIMING FOR AUSSIES 

Australia pounced during that 20-minute spell and it was a great time to bowl, after all the sunshine that we’ve had. England would have been desperate not to come back out last night. Even with their attitude of wanting to be aggressive, that period was all about survival and the openers failed to do that. It was gripping Test cricket.

Zak Crawley makes his way off the pitch after being dismissed by Scott Bolland of Australia

OUR MUSICAL INTERLUDE

During the rain break, I ran a survey of 25 members of the press box asking them what was the best band to come out of Birmingham? Some great candidates like UB40, ELO, The Moody Blues and Musical Youth. But the winners? They were so good they named them twice… Duran Duran! They just pipped it by one vote ahead of Black Sabbath. I don’t know what Ozzy Osbourne would think of that!

SECURITY GETS SOAKED 

It absolutely pelted down when the rain eventually came and in that vast area of the outfield were positioned four security guards with plastic rain ponchos over them but only two of them had umbrellas. 

They were twiddling like Fred Astaire in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. The instructions must have been: ‘Get yourselves out there and get as wet as you can!’ I couldn’t think of any other reason.