Watch: Moeen Ali found a crucial breakthrough for England on the final day of the first Ashes Test match in Edgbaston, defying a blistered finger to take Travis Head’s outside edge.

Moeen was brought on to bowl the 15th over of the day after rain wiped out the morning session. England had managed to prize out nightwatchman Scott Boland and were hunting to run through the rest of Australia’s middle order. Head has looked less than comfortable faced with a short-ball tactic from England’s seamers, but looked more at ease early in Moeen’s over.

He struck a four off its first ball, a rank long-hop, straight through deep mid-wicket, before picking up another boundary two balls later. Moeen has clearly struggled throughout much of England’s bowling innings after picking up a finger injury on day one of the Test. He hasn’t played first class cricket in over a year, and the repetitive action of spinning the ball has created an abrasion on his finger. Nevertheless, Moeen struck gold with his fourth delivery to Head.

Bowling round the wicket to the left-hander, the ball pitched on middle stump and gripped out of the surface. It bounced sharply and took an edge high of Head’s bat as he looked to defend of his back foot. The edge popped straight to Joe Root at slip for a comfortable catch, giving England a much needed wicket.

The crowd were raucous in celebration as England continued to give them hope of a repeat of the final innings of the 2005 Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Usman Khawaja, however, has given Australia hope of a series lead, reaching another fifty before Tea.

You can watch Moeen’s dismissal of Head below

Oh Moeen! 🔥

Just enough bite and turn and Root takes a simple catch at first slip 👌

Australia 5️⃣ down! #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/YnzlbhkPBW

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 20, 2023

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