James Anderson's 6-47 bowls Australia out for 136 in third Ashes Test

James Anderson’s best Ashes figures of 6-47 swung the battle for the urn back in England’s favour as Australia capitulated on day one of the third Ashes Test, at Edgbaston.

The tourists were shot out for just 136 in 36.4 overs after opting to bat as Anderson wreaked havoc in a stunning afternoon spell that included four wickets in 19 balls.

By the end of a rain-interrupted day England had all but achieved parity, closing just three runs behind on 133-3, after under-pressure Ian Bell, promoted to three, struck 53 on his home ground and Joe Root struck an unbeaten 30 from 35 balls.

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and chose to bat first

Warwickshire batsman Bell put on 57 in 9.5 overs for the second wicket with Alastair Cook (34) after Adam Lyth (10) fell only before the England skipper fell in outrageous fashion, pulling Nathan Lyon into the midriff of short leg Adam Voges as he took evasive action.

Bell reached his 44th fifty in 113 Tests off 51 balls with a delicious drive through the covers for four off Mitchell Starc only to then gift his wicket away, hoicking Lyon to David Warner at midwicket.

Australia’s implosion marked an astonishing turnaround in fortune from the second Test, which they won by 405 runs to level the series after bowling England out for 103.

All the momentum seemed with the tourists but Anderson, who went wicket-less in his last outing at Lord’s, started the rot by nipping a delivery back into David Warner’s pads.

Steven Finn, selected after Mark Wood failed to recover from an ankle problem, made deeper in-roads by claiming two wickets in nine balls in his first Test appearance in two years.

The Middlesex seamer - deemed “unselectable” after problems with his action in the 2013/14 Ashes - picked up the prized scalps of Steve Smith, well caught low down by Cook at first slip, and Michael Clarke, bowled by a delicious full ball that sneaked through his defences.

In his first over back in the England Test side, Steven Finn strikes and he has the prized wicket of Steve Smith. 

England’s momentum was interrupted by a half-hour rain break that reduced the morning session to 19 overs – Australia taking lunch on 72-3 at lunch - and showers returned to delay the start of the afternoon session by 23 minutes.

The re-start brought a clatter of wickets as Anderson’s accuracy and movement off the pitch proved too much for Australia’s middle-order.