Ashes 2013: Amazing Ashton Agar rides to the rescue for Australia
Records tumble as 19-year-old No 11 hits 98 on debut before Trott's controversial golden duck leaves England frustrated
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Your support makes all the difference.Australia's teenage debutant Ashton Agar scored an extraordinary and historic 98 on another day of high drama at Trent Bridge. The 19-year-old rescued his side from 117 for 9 to 280 all out, shattering records in the process and putting England on the back foot after the second day of the first Test.
"It's been a great day, probably the best day of my life so far," Agar said afterwards. "We were in a bit of trouble and I was just trying to play freely. That's what Boof [coach Darren Lehmann] has told us to do – take the game on and entertain the crowd – so that is what I tried to do."
Agar's innings, which lasted just 101 balls, was the highest scored by a Test No 11 batsman, beating Tino Best's innings of 95 recorded against England last summer. Agar's stand of 163 with Phil Hughes was the highest 10th-wicket stand in Test history. He could have been the first No 11 to score a hundred but Graeme Swann caught his pull on the boundary.
"Swann came up to me after I was out and said: 'Well done, young fella.' It would have been a dream to score a hundred, but I couldn't have dreamed I'd scored 98 on my debut, so I'm very happy," he added.
There was controversy soon after Agar's dismissal when England's No 3 Jonathan Trott was given out leg before wicket by the third umpire. Trott was given not out by Aleem Dar but the Australians reviewed it and, despite strong suggestions that Trott got an inside edge, the third umpire overturned the decision and gave him out. England were angry that not all relevant technology was available to the third umpire, as one of the Hot Spot views was unavailable.
Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook then stabilised England's innings, taking them to 80 for 2, a lead of 15, at the close. England had a far better morning, before Agar's assault, Anderson taking 5 for 85 as Australia collapsed before lunch.
Agar added: "If we can break the partnership between Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen early on, the power will definitely be in our hands. After not getting a hundred, it would be nice to take five wickets."
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