Overnight resistance broken

Australian teenage debutant Ashton Agar,who made a world record 98 for a No. 11 batsman on Thursday,claimed his first Test wicket when Cook’s leading edge was well caught at slip in a one-handed effort by Michael Clarke. The England captain made 50 from 164 balls with two fours.

Ian Bell was 20 not out and Jonny Bairstow unbeaten on 13 at the interval.

England resumed on 80-2,and after two days of unrelenting drama the first hour was comparatively slow — if no less nerve-wracking.

Pietersen brought up his 50 with a drive off Starc in the 50th over,and Cook whipped Agar through midwicket to bring up the century partnership in the 54th. But there were few chances until Pietersen dragged Pattinson onto his stumps on the final ball before the drinks break three overs later with 121 on the board.

Cook reached his 50,from 164 balls,with a single from Agar. But the 19-year-old left-arm finger spinner removed him in the 60th with an off break that Clarke took high over his head to leave the total on 131-4.

The dismissals slowed an already pedestrian run rate,best exemplified by Shane Watson bowling 34 balls before England managed a scoring shot against him.

Australia wasted its final referral in the 69th over,claiming an lbw decision against Bairstow from a ball that was drifting considerably down leg side. The two batsmen saw out the session and the test remains finely balanced.

Ashtonishing

It has been a fantastic debut for Agar so far. While his selection over Nathan Lyon came as a shock on the opening day of this first Test,Agar left his doubters speechless with an incredible knock as a number 11 batsman. And today,his main art as a left arm spinner was brought to the fore.

Yesterday,Agar fell agonisingly short of becoming the first Test match number 11 to score a century as he frustrated England with a record-breaking 98 on the second day of the Ashes opener at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

It seemed England would have a commanding first innings lead as Australia collapsed to 117 for nine in reply to the Ashes-holders’ first innings 215. But 19-year-old Agar went on to make the highest score by any Test No 11,surpassing Tino Best’s 95 for the West Indies against England at Edgbaston last year.

Together with fellow left-hander Phil Hughes (81 not out),Agar shared a 10th wicket Test record partnership of 163 to take Australia to 280.

That topped the previous last wicket record stand of 151 held jointly by Brian Hastings and Richard Collinge for New Zealand against Pakistan at Auckland in 1972/73 and Azhar Mahmood and Mushtaq Ahmed for Pakistan against South Africa at Rawalpindi in 1997/98.

Brick by brick

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc then followed up by taking two wickets in successive balls to leave England floundering at 11 for two. But England captain Alastair Cook (37 not out) and Kevin Pietersen (35 not out) rebuilt the innings with an unbroken stand of 69 that left the hosts 80 for two at stumps — a lead of 15 runs.

Australia resumed on Thursday on 75 for four,a deficit of 140 runs,after an overcast first day where seamer Peter Siddle rocked England with five for 50. But the second day saw sunshine and blue skies which promised better batting conditions for Steven Smith,38 not out overnight,and Hughes.

James Anderson,who on Wednesday had gone past England fast bowling great Fred Trueman’s record of 307 Test wickets,made the breakthrough Thursday,finishing with his 14th five-for.