Finn's five puts England on top!

England are well poised to take the lead in the Ashes series as a hapless Australia surrendered before a hostile England attack on day two of the third Test match at Edgbaston on Thursday.

From 73 for the loss of two wickets, Australia ended the day with the scorecard reading 168/7- a slender lead of 23 runs with just three wickets remaining in hand.

With the match almost swinging in favor of England, only a miracle can allow Australia escape defeat. Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc will resume the proceedings for Australia on day three. 

The likes of Chris Rogers, Steve Smith departed early as skipper Michael Clarke's terrible form continued. David Warner with a fighting half-century stood tall, but even he was defeated.

A double strike from Steven Finn saw Australia lose two wickets in two consecutive deliveries and that pretty much sealed the deal in favour of the hosts.

Stuart Broad, bowling round the wicket, rapped Rogers on his back leg to trap the opener lbw for six.

Smith then perished for eight when he top-edged Steven Finn to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

England established a decent lead, despite losing their last three wickets for four runs, after an entertaining eighth-wicket stand of 87 between Moeen Ali and Broad.

The pair added quick runs after lunch, Moeen again showing how valuable he is coming in at number eight.

All at sea against his spinning counterpart Nathan Lyon before the interval, he smashed Mitchell Johnson for six boundaries including three in one over.

But after Broad (31) skied Josh Hazlewood to mid-on, Moeen quickly followed and the innings ended tamely.

A hostile Johnson had begun the second morning on fire, removing Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes in his first over to pass 300 test wickets.

Johnson steamed in and directed a bouncer that was homing in on Bairstow's throat, the startled batsman fending it off with his glove to be caught behind.

Two balls later Stokes also got a taste of 'chin-music', unable to get out of the way of another thunderbolt and falling in the same fashion.

Joe Root kept his cool to compile 63 while Hazlewood and Lyon took three wickets apiece for Australia.

The five-test series is level at 1-1 after England won in Cardiff and Australia hit back in the second test at Lord's.