The Ashes, 2015: Live Cricket Score of England vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 2

Australia bowled out for 136. England 133 for 3 at stumps on Day 1 of third Ashes Test with the series level at 1-1. Now who saw that coming? Not me certainly. The nine-day break between the Test matches has certainly done England a world of good. They looked refreshed and Australia, strangely despondent.

The fact of the matter is, England led by the crafty Jimmy Anderson and a buoyant Steven Finn bowled the Aussies out for a measly 135 despite losing the toss and having been asked to field first in Birmingham, where only recently Sussex and Warwickshire scored 600 each.

Joe Root (30*) and Jonny Bairstow (1*) will start proceedings for the hosts, who are just 3 runs shy of Australia's total. Can they press home the advantage with a huge first innings lead? Will the Mitches stand up and be counted?

Mitchell Johnson threw open the Test match in the space of three balls early on Day 2. He removed Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes soon after England passed Australia's first innings total. His 300th Test wicket came couldn't have come off a better delivery. A rib-snorter that Bairstow could only glove to the keeper.

Ben Stokes fell for a duck two balls later. Another unplayable short ball that took the glove on its way to the keeper. Fabulous start to Day 2.

Stat: Johnson joins Shane Warne (708), Glenn McGrath (563), Dennis Lillee (355) and Brett Lee (310) as the only Australian bowlers to have taken 300 Test wickets.

Sometimes when you're defending a small target you start going looking for wickets. I think Australia were guilty of that, of trying to knock England over and take wickets rather than get the ball in the right area and build pressure. There was only one maiden over in the whole inning so far and I think that says a lot about their mindset. They're looking to take wickets rather than getting the ball in the right area, build pressure and then the wickets will come.
Sometimes when you're defending a small target you start going looking for wickets. I think Australia were guilty of that, of trying to knock England over and take wickets rather than get the ball in the right area and build pressure. There was only one maiden over in the whole inning so far and I think that says a lot about their mindset. They're looking to take wickets rather than getting the ball in the right area, build pressure and then the wickets will come.

- As told to cricket.com.au.

Well... what better way to usher in your birthday than by picking up a six-fer against Australia on Day 1 of the third Ashes Test with the series tied 1-1? James Anderson turns 33 today. Here's wishing him the best of years to come. Has his first innings spell turned the tide firmly in England's favour? Let us know! Send in your Tweets to @ganeshcee

The fifty was very similar to the one got by Ian Bell. A flurry of boundaries ensures that England's score is up while the lead increases too. Battling Johnson is the key for England now. One feels that the lead might not be too much on this pitch which still has a lot of juice for the bowlers. Excellent set-up for a contest.

The wickets keep tumbling. England have a handy lead now but this wicket will be an important one for Australia. Root was looking to score a lot of boundaries and he fell chasing a wide one from Starc. Voges took another catch at slip, cleanly this time.

Lyon is the man with the golden arm. Three wickets in three overs! Buttler survived one LBW review as the ball went over the stumps. Australia lost a review then but the very next ball, he was given out. Buttler didn't review this one but replays showed that the ball would have gone well over the stumps. Australia won't mind that.

This has been a no-contest so far. Lyon is spinning, bouncing and generally making Ali look very silly. Luckily for the batsman, the edges are finding the gaps or falling short so far. Lyon has been extremely impressive. The pitch even more so.

It has been a good session for Australia but England still have their noses ahead in the game. Johnson drew first blood with two rip-roaring bouncers in the second over of the day. Root resisted with 63 but fell to a wayward Starc. Lyon provided the perfect supporting cast by keeping the pressure on with a superb spell. Ali was lucky to survive the session. How much more can England build the lead?

Ali and Broad are frustrating Australia now. The duo have been streaky but added valuable runs down the order. A crucial partnership is going on. The lead has swelled past 100 as well. Ali added salt to the wounds by hitting Mitchell Johnson for three boundaries in an over. Not long before he got his 4th fifty in Tests as well. Match slipping away from Australia rather quickly now.

After the end of a whirlwind 87-run stand between Broad and Ali, England's innings folded up rather quickly. Hazlewood finished with three wickets as well. Still 57 overs left in the day. There will be a lot more happening now. Australia need to bat out of their skins to reverse the advantage from here.

It has just been England's session so far and Broad makes it better with an early strike. The in-form Rogers is trapped LBW with a delivery that came in with the line from round the wicket. Rogers was too late to go for the review and was denied it because of the same reason.

Interesting little battle between these two. Broad has a spring in his step and finishing his follow through with that extra bit of effort. Warner is in the mood to dominate. He's hit road or three boundaries already and he's going at 7 an over despite the wicket of Rogers. More to come between these two.

Horrendous shot from Steven Smith as he falls just before Tea. Steven Finn gets him for the second time in the match. The attempted pull from Smith went straight up behind him and into the 'keeper's gloves.

Warner, meanwhile has got the joint-fastest Ashes fifty by an Australian - off just 35 balls. And he's got the runs in rather nondescript manner as well. There has been no pressing need to go after all the deliveries but he's hit boundaries with precision at regular intervals. Yet another fine second innings knock from this man. That's three second innings fifties in this series as well. Australia went into Tea at 73/2.

Big strikes from Finn straight after tea. Clarke was the first to edge to slip and Voges followed in identical fashion off the very next ball. Mitchell Marsh survived the hat-trick ball but the damage was done already. Finn has accounted for Clarke and Smith in both innings of his comeback Test. Maximum impact! Australia effectively -69/4 now

Steven Finn came very close to getting his fourth wicket. Mitchell Marsh missed one that nipped in by a big margin and was struck on the backfoot. It looked plumb to the naked eye but the ball-tracker stuck with Aleem Dar's decision.

Mitchell Marsh was cleaned up by a fuller delivery that nipped in. It was similar to the one that hit him on the pad only much fuller. Marsh missed this one too with a big gap between bat and pad. Clean bowled!

David Warner was finally dislodged by a snorter from Anderson. The ball reared up steeply from a good length and had Warner hopping to block. The leading edge looped up to cover and brought to end a fine 62-ball 77. Australia still trailing by 34 and in danger of losing the Test in just two days now!

Anderson seems to have a side strain. He hooped a couple of deliveries past Johnson's bat but then pulled up midway through the over with a bit of a grimace. He seemed alright to walk off but does so as a precautionary measure. England will hope that he comes out soon. Not a good sign for Jimmy on his birthday. Root finishes off the over and there is more spin on the way as Moeen Ali comes on.

How big a blow will Anderson's injury be? Johnson and Nevill are looking largely untroubled here. Tiny baby steps so far but if the Australian tail wags, we could still have a very interesting game here. Johnson can hang around and strike some meaty blows as well. All not over. Not just yet.

Johnson and Nevill were just becoming a little too comfortable. Australia had got the lead and England needed to make things happen. Enter Finn for a new spell. Has Johnson top edging to point. End of a stubborn stand. Five for Finn and Australia in a spin

Australia finish the day with a 23-run lead and three wickets in hand. Steven Finn fittingly led England off the field. His 5/45 broke open Australia in the second innings. Moeen Ali's fifty earlier in the day gave England a lead of 145. Australia were in danger of losing the Test in just two days but managed to hold on. Unless something spectacular happens tomorrow, England will be 2-1 up.