But captain Pat Cummins struck 44 not out in a superb partnership with Nathan Lyon to see Australia over the line in a climax of suffocating tension

Should play resume, a thrilling finish is in prospect after veteran England seamer Stuart Broad removed Australia's Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, the world's two top-ranked Test batsmen, late on Monday's fourth day

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting praised England captain Ben Stokes' proactive approach to captaincy in the first Test of the Ashes at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

 Australia's bowlers struck twice in quick succession in a devastating spell against England at Edgbaston on Sunday, before heavy rain washed out the later sessions on the third day of the series-opening Ashes test.

Stuart Broad slammed the Edgbaston surface as "soulless" and described it as one of the slowest he has encountered in England after Usman Khawaja's unbeaten century dragged Australia back into the contest and left the first Ashes test finely poised.

Usman Khawaja ended his decade-long wait for a maiden Test hundred in England as he led an Australia recovery in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Saturday.

England captain Ben Stokes insists there will be no let-up in his side's dynamic approach during the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia, which starts on Friday.

Experts say Michael Clarke seemed within touching distance of greatness at various times in his career, but ultimately he fell marginally short.