England will push for the most thrilling and unexpected of victories in this extraordinary first Test on Saturday after a helter-skelter third day of a captivating series ended with Australia facing a record breaking Ashes run-chase. When Jimmy Anderson was bowled trying to hit Nathan Lyon into Cardiff city centre in the last over of a quite incredible day, 15 wickets had fallen and 333 runs had been scored in three sessions of thoroughly modern Test cricket. It left Australia needing 412 to win, eight more than any side has ever scored to win an Ashes Test, but with two whole days of this frantic contest to get them after seven English wickets were sent tumbling in the final session.England were bowled out for 289 on day three in their second innings at Swalec StadiumAlastair Cook's men set Australia a target of 412 to win the first Ashes Test in CardiffAustralia were bowled out for 308 on third morning to give England a lead of 122 after first inningsIan Bell and Joe Root both scored half-centuries in England's second inningsAustralia fought back to bowl England out, but face a big chase in the fourth innings
This was a day that had everything as this eagerly-anticipated contest again rattled along at breakneck speed at a controversial venue that has delivered everything _ and their supporters could possibly have hoped for. England have moved the goalposts, and gloriously so, in all forms of cricket now and that should be celebrated whatever happens in _ on Saturday.