Stuart Broad took six wickets before Rory Burns' 90 strengthened England's grip on the deciding third Test despite the West Indies avoiding the follow-on at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Broad's haul of 6-31 in 14 overs helped the hosts bundle out the West Indies for 197 in reply to England's first-innings 369 that featured his dashing 62.

He took all the West Indies wickets to fall on Sunday's third day in a burst of 4-14 in four overs as England went in search of a victory that would see them win this series 2-1 and regain the Wisden Trophy.

England then made 226-2 declared in their second innings, with Burns and Dom Sibley (56) sharing a stand of 114 -- England's first century opening partnership in a home Test since Alastair Cook and Alex Hales put on 126 against Pakistan at Edgbaston in 2016.

England captain Joe Root was 68 not out when he declared, amid concerns Monday's play could be washed out, to set the West Indies a huge target of 399.

No side have made more in the fourth innings to win an Old Trafford Test than England's 294-4 against New Zealand in 2008. 

Root declared when Burns, bidding for his third Test century, skied off-spinner Roston Chase to substitute wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva.

Burns faced 163 balls including 10 fours.

Root had previously completed a 49-ball fifty when he drove Kemar Roach's first ball back straight over the fast bowler's head for four.

Dowrich injury

West Indies used three wicketkeepers on Sunday after Shane Dowrich was hit in the face after a 90mph delivery from Shannon Gabriel burst through his gloves.

One-day international wicketkeeper Shai Hope, in the Test side as a batsman, initially took over behind the stumps.

But match officials then allowed Da Silva, the back-up gloveman in the Test squad but not in the original XI for this match, to come on.

Burns, twice dismissed by Chase already this series, almost fell to him on 12 when beaten by a sharply turning delivery, only for the unlucky Da Silva to slip and miss the stumping chance.

West Indies resumed, still needing 33 more runs to avoid the follow-on at 137-6.

Root, perhaps remembering how Dowrich, not out overnight along with West Indies captain Jason Holder, had struggled against the short ball in the second Test, initially deployed Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes on Sunday.

But Dowrich made a useful 37 before he was the last man out to give Broad his 497th Test wicket.

Woakes thought he had Holder out on 38 with the aid of a brilliant diving catch by Ollie Pope at midwicket, but a replay check by the umpires revealed a no-ball.

Holder then ensured the follow-on was avoided by pulling Woakes for four.

But Holder was lbw to Broad, bowling a fuller length than Archer or Woakes, for 46.

Broad, controversially omitted from England's first-Test loss at Southampton, had Roach caught by first slip Root for a duck and Rahkeem Cornwall lbw for 10.

The only seamers to have taken more Test wickets than Broad are his longtime England new-ball colleague James Anderson (589) and the retired pair of Australia's Glenn McGrath (563) and West Indies' Courtney Walsh (519).

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Michael Steele

Roston Chase succeeded where West Indies' fast bowlers had failed, by removing England opener Rory Burns on the fourth day of the first Test at Southampton on Saturday.

At lunch, England were 79-1 in their second innings, still 35 runs adrift of West Indies' first innings 318.

It seemed England would get through the morning session without losing a wicket.

But shortly before the interval, Burns gave his wicket away on 42 when he failed to get over a cut from part-time off-spinner Chase and was caught at backward point by John Campbell to end a stand of 72.

Dom Sibley was 31 not out.

Joe Denly, needing a big score to bolster a low Test average for a batsman of under 30, was unbeaten on one.

England resumed on 15-0 after Burns and Sibley had survived 10 testing overs late on Friday.

But in ideal sunny batting conditions on a placid pitch, the pair got through Saturday's opening spells from the Windies' quicks without much trouble.

Burns cover-drove Shannon Gabriel for Saturday's first boundary and followed that up by straight-driving Kemar Roach for another four.

West Indies were without a frontline spinner after omitting Rahkeem Cornwall.

But they could call upon Chase.

Although primarily a batsman, Chase took a Test-best 8-60 when West Indies beat England at his Barbados home ground last year en route to a 2-1 series win.

But having made a valuable 47 in West Indies' first innings of this match, he posed few problems until removing Burns in his 10th over.

Meanwhile, the towering Holder struck Sibley, then on 24, a sharp blow on the right elbow with a delivery that rose alarmingly from a good length.

West Indies had dominated the first three days of a match that marks international cricket's return from lockdown.

They dismissed England for 204, with Holder taking a Test-best 6-42.

West Indies then saw Kraigg Brathwaite make 65, the opener's first Test fifty in 22 innings, with Shane Dowrich adding a valuable 61.

Stand-in England skipper Ben Stokes, captaining the side in the absence of Joe Root, led the hosts' attack with 4-49.

Stokes, second to the number one-ranked Holder in the ICC's Test all-rounder rankings, had earlier top-scored with 43 in England's first innings after winning the toss.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

England batsman Rory Burns believes the West Indies will give the hosts a 'stiff test' come next month's eagerly anticipated series.

The three matches, still subject to final clearance from the British government, are set to mark the return of Test match cricket as the sport emerges from months of lockdown caused by the global pandemic. 

Surrey opener Burns will be looking to regain his place at the top of the order after being sidelined since January with ankle ligament damage suffered during a warm-up game of football in Cape Town.

The 29-year-old left-hander knows better than most not to underestimate the West Indies, having been a Test fledgeling when England lost 2-1 in the Caribbean in 2018. 

"The last time we played them, they won. They're certainly no slouches," Burns told Sky's Cricket Show.

"Their bowling attack caused us a lot of problems -- they're very skilful and have got some pace," added Burns, who averaged a modest 24.16 as the West Indies regained the Wisden Trophy.

Read | England confirm West Indies series for July

"There's a lot of good cricketers there and think it's going to be a stiff test no matter what."

The West Indies are due to arrive in England via a charter flight on Tuesday, with a 25-man squad comprising 14 frontline players and 11 designated reserves.

Of those originally selected, only batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, together with fast-bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul, have decided not to travel because of COVID-19.

'Minds at ease'

But Burns said he and his team-mates had been reassured by the England and Wales Cricket Board's plan to create a 'bio-secure' bubble at both the Ageas Bowl, which stages the series opener from July 8, and Emirates Old Trafford, the venue for the second and third Tests. 

"People's minds can run away with themselves," Burns said. 

"What might it look like? What risk factors are there? But it's been very clear in the messaging we've had, in terms of putting minds at ease.

"It's been mitigated by the explanations we've had, which has been really positive."

ECB special projects director Steve Elworthy revealed both sides would spend more than a week together at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton as they completed their preparations for the first Test.

Read | West Indies' Roach eager to tour England despite risk

"England are looking to move in to the Ageas in and around the back end of June in preparing towards the Test match," he said.

"When the West Indies come out of isolation at Old Trafford (where the tourists will spend their initial 14-day quarantine) they will be brought inside the Ageas for some time too.

"It's an incredible facility, with a full-size training ground next to the main ground. We wanted them to be able to train, practice and prepare for the Test so having two full grounds available was key."

Lancashire, having made their Old Trafford base available for international duty, are planning to use Aigburth in Liverpool as a main home ground should a county season delayed until August at the earliest get going.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Peter Parks

He might have a shaky technique. He might be eyeing mid-on when the bowler is close to delivering the ball. He might have averaged only 22 in Test cricket heading into his maiden Ashes series. But Rory Burns achieved something that several prestigious England openers haven't been able to in the first Test of the Ashes series at Edgbaston. 

In his maiden Ashes innings, Burns appeared vulnerable early on but soon settled down into his groove to put on a show. The left-hander from Surrey struck a patient 133, consuming 312 balls and fighting off some excellent bowling from Australia.

This was his maiden Test ton and at 99, it appeared as if Burns was extremely nervous at the upcoming landmark.  He ate up 10 balls before knocking off his maiden Test ton and first Ashes century.

“You’re only ever half an hour from kicking yourself back into rhythm,�Burns had said before the Test match. With a Test average hovering just about 20, that seemed an overconfident statement until Burns walked at Edgbaston to prove his detractors wrong.

In his marathon innings which contributed to 35% of all runs England made in the innings, Burns made the first hundred by an England opener other than Alastair Cook at home since 2015.

Burns also made a remarkable achievement when he scored a home Ashes ton in his debut Ashes innings. Some of England's greatest ever Test openers like Alastair Cook, Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart and Marcus Trescothick don't have an Ashes century at home while opening the innings.

Cook is England's highest run scorer as an opener with 11845 runs. Atherton is the fourth highest run scorer with 7476 runs while Stewart and Trescothick have 3348 and 5824 runs respectively as openers. But none of them have managed an Ashes ton at home when facing the new ball.

In one outstanding innings, Burns has eclipsed these exceptional cricketers. His knock at Edgbaston will go down in history books as one amomg the better knocks by an England opener in a home Ashes Test in the 21st century.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

England were dismissed for 374 in reply to Australia's first-innings 284, a lead of 90 runs, on the third day of the first Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Rory Burns batted for nearly eight hours to top-score with 133, his maiden Test hundred, in an innings where England captain Joe Root (57) and vice-captain Ben Stokes (50) both hit half-centuries.

England lost three wickets for four runs before lunch to slump to 300-8 -- just 16 runs ahead.

But a ninth-wicket stand of 65 between Chris Woakes, who made 37 not out on his Warwickshire home ground, and Stuart Broad (29) boosted their total.

Last man James Anderson came out to bat despite suffering a calf injury earlier in the match that meant England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker only bowled four overs in Australia's first innings.

Woakes then declined clear singles in what appeared to be both a bid to keep the strike and reduce the amount of running between the wickets required by Anderson, who was eventually last man out for three when caught slog-sweeping off Nathan Lyon.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins led Australia's attack with 3-84 in 33 overs on an increasingly placid pitch, with off-spinner Lyon taking 3-112 in 43.5 overs. 

Australia hold the Ashes but they have not won a Test series away to England for 18 years

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Lindsey Parnaby

Rory Burns and England captain Joe Root kept Australia at bay on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Friday.

At lunch, England were 71-1 in their first innings -- a deficit of 213 runs.

Burns was 41 not out and Root unbeaten on 11.

England still had plenty of work to do to get back on level terms but a session where they lost just one wicket in opener Jason Roy represented a vast improvement on their first-innings 85 all out in a Test win over Ireland at Lord's last week. 

England were 10-0, with left-hander Burns four not out and Surrey team-mate Roy six not out, when play resumed Friday in slightly overcast conditions.

That left them 274 runs behind Australia's first-innings 284 built on a brilliant 144 from Steve Smith, ignoring the jeers of a raucous crowd, in the former captain's first Test innings since he completed a 12-month ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Australia were in dire straits at 122-8 but their last two wickets more than doubled their total, with number 10 Peter Siddle making 44, the second highest score of the innings, as he put on 88 with Smith.

England have made it through to lunch one down - somehow!

James Pattinson thought he had Joe Root caught behind, but a DRS review revealed the ball had clipped the stumps with the bails remaining in place.

71/1

Follow the Ashes live //t.co/Q32BC3AuDB pic.twitter.com/TtJoHCYMaS

�ICC (@ICC) August 2, 2019

It was not long before Smith was centre-stage again.

Roy made a blistering 85 in eventual champions England's World Cup semi-final win over Australia at Edgbaston last month.

But in just his second Test, he never looked comfortable against Australia's fast bowlers and it was no surprise when, on 10, he edged a good length ball from James Pattinson low to Smith at second slip, with England then 22-1 in the eighth over.

Burns was then hit a glancing blow on his batting helmet by a Pat Cummins bouncer.

As play continued, the crowd's attention was distracted by a plane flying over Edgbaston trailing the message 'Arise Sir Ben Stokes Barmy Army' -- a tribute to the England all-rounder from a supporters group.

Root had returned to number three from four in a bid to lead from the front with the bat.

But he was almost bowled leaving off-spinner Nathan Lyon's first ball, a sharply turning delivery that just missed the stumps.

Root, England's best batsman, had an even bigger slice of luck on nine when he was given out caught behind off Pattinson only for his review to reveal the ball had hit the off stump without dislodging a bail.

The patient Burns was content to bide his time and pick off anything loose, such as an over-pitched ball from Cummins that he on-drove for four.

Australia hold the Ashes but they have not won a Test series away to England in 18 years. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Lindsey Parnaby

Rory Burns' unbeaten maiden Test century saw him defy Australia for more than six-and-a-half hours as he led a determined England batting effort in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Friday. 

England were 267-4 at stumps on the second day of the first Test, just 17 runs behind Australia's first-innings 284.

Ashes debutant Burns was 125 not out, with the Surrey left-handed opener, whose innings started on Thursday, receiving a huge ovation from the crowd as he walked off

England vice-captain Ben Stokes was 38 not out, having helped Burns add an unbroken 73. 

Australia's total had been built on a superb 144 from Steve Smith in the former captain's first Test since a 12-month ban for his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

England, dismissed for just 85 in the first innings of their Test win against Ireland at Lord's last week, resumed on 10-0 with Burns four not out and Surrey team-mate Jason Roy on six.

Roy made a blistering 85 in eventual champions England's World Cup semi-final win over Australia at Edgbaston last month.

But he never looked comfortable on Friday and, on 10, he edged fast bowler James Pattinson low to Smith at second slip, with England then 22-1.

Captain Joe Root had returned to No 3 in a bid to lead from the front.

Fortune favours England

But he was almost bowled leaving off-spinner Nathan Lyon's sharply turning first ball.

The star batsman had an even luckier break on nine when given out caught behind off Pattinson only for his review to reveal the ball had hit the off stump without dislodging a bail.

Meanwhile Burns was content to pick off anything loose, including an over-pitched ball from Pat Cummins he on-drove for four.

Rory Burns walks off unbeaten on 125*

He has helped England take a firm grip of this Test match. They are 267/4, trailing Australia by just 17.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/lTPIvwgUed

�ICC (@ICC) August 2, 2019

Root had another moment of good fortune when given out lbw to recalled paceman Peter Siddle on 14. 

But in a match already full of overturned decisions, his immediate review revealed an inside edge.

Root cashed in as he too, like Burns, completed a 110-ball fifty.

But frustratingly for Root, whose conversion rate of fifties to hundreds is relatively poor -- 42 to 16 -- he fell soon afterwards when he chipped a Siddle slower ball back to the bowler, who took a fine one-handed catch to end a second-wicket partnership of 132.

Australia's pacemen allowed Burns, who unusually tilts his head towards the right before every ball he faces in a bid to compensate for a dominant left eye, to settle by repeatedly bowling around the wicket and so feeding him runs on the legside. 

By the time they went over the wicket to him, Burns was well set.

Nevertheless Burns, whose previous highest score in eight Tests was the 84 he made against the West Indies at Bridgetown in January, still spent 36 balls in the 'nervous 90s'. 

But a quick single off Lyon eventually saw Burns, the man whom England hope will fill a position at opener that has become even more of a problem for them since their all-time leading run-scorer Alastair Cook's international retirement last year, to three figures in 224 balls including 14 fours.

Earlier, Burns could only watch as Joe Denly and Jos Buttler fell cheaply after tea to leave England 194-4.

But all-rounder Stokes helped revive the innings.

The left-handed batsman hit several boundaries off second-string bowling on a sunny afternoon as Australia looked to speed up their over-rate.

And when the tourists took the new ball on a relatively placid pitch, Stokes drove Cummins down the ground for four to huge cheers from fans in the raucous Hollies Stand.

Australia hold the Ashes, but they have not won a Test series away to England in 18 years

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Lindsey Parnaby