BIRMINGHAM: England beat Australia by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday to take a 2-1 lead in the Ashes series.

Here's story so far:

July 08-11 1st Test, Cardiff England won by 169 runs

Joe Root, in with England struggling at 43 for three, is dropped on nought by Australia wicket-keeper Brad Haddin and goes on to make 134 in a first-innings total of 430.

Root also makes a valuable 60 in the second innings as England leave Australia with a stiff chase of 412 for victory.

It proved beyond the tourists, with Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali sharing six wickets between them as England win with more than a day to spare.

July 16-19 2nd Test, Lord's Australia won by 405 runs

Another four-day finish sees Australia utterly dominant, with Steven Smith (215) and Chris Rogers (173) both making their Test-best scores in a huge first-innings total of 566 for eight declared.

England's alleged plan to prepare lifeless pitches in a bid to negate Australia's quicks proves futile as they are dismissed for 312 in reply.

Worse follows when, having been set a mammoth 509 for victory, England are skittled out for just 103 in 37 overs as left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson lets rip.

July 29-31 3rd Test, Edgbaston England won by 8 wickets

After two four-day Tests comes a match that is all over inside three.

Australia captain Michael Clarke opts to bat first on a classic seaming pitch in overcast conditions and sees his side shot out for 136 as James Anderson, wicketless at Lord's, takes an Ashes-best six for 47.

The tourists fare better in their second innings but recalled fast bowler Steven Finn takes a Test-best six for 79 before Ian Bell, on his Warwickshire home ground, leads England to a modest target of 121 with his second fifty of the match.

To play: Aug 06-10: 4th Test, Trent Bridge Aug 20-24: 5th Test, The Oval

Ashes 2015 by the numbers:

Leading run-makers England - Joe Root (313) Australia - Chris Rogers (385)

Leading wicket-takers England - Stuart Broad (12) Australia - Josh Hazlewood (14)

Best batting performance England: Joe Root (134, Cardiff) Australia: Steven Smith (215, Lord's)

Best bowling England: James Anderson (6-47, Edgbaston) Australia: Mitchell Starc (5-114, Cardiff)