England's Stuart Broad took two late wickets on Monday to pile pressure on Australia as the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston headed for a dramatic finish.

After bowling England out for 273 just before tea on a fluctuating fourth day, Australia set about their 281 victory target serenely but ended the day wobbling on 107 for three. 

England off-spinner Moeen Ali's bowling looms as a crucial factor on the final day at Edgbaston today.

The only problem for Moeen, who came out of Test retirement to join the squad after first-choice spinner Jack Leach suffered a stress fracture in his back, is he is struggling to grip the ball.

The 36-year-old has battled a finger blister throughout the match, and was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for illegal use of a drying agent on Saturday.

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took four wickets for 80 runs in the second innings, expressed sympathy with fellow spinner Moeen.

"I've got a lot of sympathy for Mo – not coming off any red-ball cricket for two years and being thrown in to bowl a lot of overs. The best way I can probably sum it up is it's probably like a singer losing their vocals but being expected to go out there and put a concert on.

"It is extremely tough to grip the ball, especially as finger-spinners. As offies (off-spinners), we put our fingers on the seam and we try and spin it up the back of the ball as that's where you get spin, drop and drift.

"So I've a lot of sympathy for him. I've been there before. It is quite painful."