FROM ASHES RISES A NEW STAR
The visitors, down in the dumps, were rescued by a sensational effort by teenaged debutant Ashton Agar on Day Two at Trent Bridge
Ashton Agar rewrites record books, resurrects Australia at Trent Bridge
19-yr-old debutant’s 98, highest score for Test No 11, rescues Australia from dire straits (117/9). Team ends first innings at 280 on Day 2 of first Ashes Test — 65 runs ahead. England 80/2 at the stumps
His partnership of 163 with Phil Hughes (81*) is highest for 10th wicket in Tests
The lanky 6’4’’ Aussie, who has a Sri Lankan mother, is primarily a leftarm spinner. Had only played 10 first-class matches before his shock call-up for Ashes
Agar, who put on hold plans to study law for cricket, is first debutant No 11 to score a Test half-century
NOTTINGHAM: Teenage Australia debutant Ashton Agar fell agonisingly short of becoming the first Test match No 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 Ashesholders’ 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 lefthander 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.
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 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 Thursday saw sunshine and blue skies which promised better batting conditions for Steven Smith, 38 not out overnight, and Hughes.
ANDERSON MOVES UP
James Anderson, who on Wednesday had gone past England fast bowling great Fred Trueman’s record of 307 Test wickets, made the breakthrough Thursday.
Smith, driving loosely at Anderson, gaining reverseswing, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Matt Prior for 53.
This was the start of an Australia collapse that saw five wickets lost for nine runs.
Agar did survive a desperately close stumping appeal.