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Lethal Anderson swinging in the rain

England quick revels in drizzly Birmingham to leave Aussies in tatters

After going wicketless at Lord’s for the sixth time in his Test career, England spearhead James Anderson has bounced back in emphatic fashion to dismantle Australia with six wickets on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston.

Anderson's 6-47 from 14.4 overs is his best innings return in Ashes cricket, the paceman relishing the overhead conditions on a rain-affected day in Birmingham to play the lead hand in rolling Australia for 136.

Anderson's six wickets (Australia only)

In the space of half an hour after lunch, England's master of the moving ball claimed 4-7 in 19 balls to tear through Australia's middle order.

The devastating performance came in the wake of some criticism directed at England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, with Australia great and current selector Mark Waugh suggesting the 32-year-old “didn’t look interested” during his disappointing performance in the second Test.

Anderson removed dynamic opening batsman David Warner lbw in the third over of the day after the hosts were sent in by Australia captain Michael Clarke.

"We were hoping to win and bat. It looked a good pitch and we weren't expecting the seam movement we got," Anderson said.

"The conditions we had throughout the day, the floodlights were on and that definitely played into our hands."

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David Warner was the first of Anderson's wickets // Getty Images 

Rain shortened the morning session to just 19 overs, but in the over second over after the main interval the right-armer had Adam Voges wafting at a wide outswinger to take the edge and capture the Western Australia captain’s wicket for 16.

Three balls later Anderson had his next victim, allrounder Mitchell Marsh driving hard at an away dipper to find the edge before Peter Nevill was bowled neck and crop with a searing inswinger to which the wicketkeeper shouldered arms.

Anderson completed his 18th five-wicket haul with the scalp of Mitchell Johnson, caught at fourth slip by Ben Stokes to render the tourists 7-94 after 27 overs.

"I knew I could have bowled better than at Lord's and it was going away and putting that right," Anderson said.

"My job is to set the tone with the new ball and I didn't adjust to the pitch at Lord's so it was nice to put the ball in the right area more often.

"After taking no wickets the confidence takes a hit. After a week off and the work I'd done I felt coming in to this game, my confidence was high."

The Lancashire product was backed up superbly by the returning Steven Finn, who claimed the key wickets of Steve Smith and Michael Clarke in the first dozen overs of the day.

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Finn celebrates the wicket of Steve Smith // Getty Images

Finn, a late replacement for the injured Mark Wood, hadn’t appeared in a Test match since the 2013 Ashes, but had an impact almost immediately on the opening morning as England made merry in the sodden conditions. 

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