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28 March 2024

1st Ashes Test ENG v AUS Day 4: England rock Australia with late burst

Ian Bell of England celebrates after reaching his century during day four of the 1st Ashes Test against Australia at Trent Bridge on July 13, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (GETTY)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

England were scenting victory after claiming three late wickets to reduce Australia to 174 for six on a fluctuating fourth day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

The touring side, chasing 311 for victory, battled into a strong position on 161 for three before losing captain Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Phil Hughes in quick succession to tilt an extraordinary match back England's way.

Brad Haddin, on 11, and Ashton Agar, one, will resume in the morning with Australia still needing 137 to win and the home team requiring four wickets.

Earlier, Ian Bell made 109 and Stuart Broad 65, stretching their important seventh-wicket partnership to 138 as England made 375 in their second innings.

Bell and Broad, resuming on 326 for six, quickly reached the individual milestones their tenacious stand deserved.

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc got Australia's day off to a bad start with a wild beamer which flew to the boundary and Broad then slashed James Pattinson for four to get to his half-century.

Bell pushed Starc for a single to post his 18th test century, a marathon effort of intense concentration lasting more than six hours.

The 31-year-old Bell, often criticised for failing to deliver under pressure, leapt up and punched the air after completing his run before raising his bat to all sides of the ground.

Broad's fine knock ended when he edged paceman Pattinson through to wicketkeeper Haddin.

The England fast bowler walked straight off to ironic cheers after a controversial incident on Friday when he edged Agar to slip and stayed at the wicket having being given not out by the umpire.

GOOD DELIVERY

Bell nicked a good delivery from Starc to Haddin and left the field to a standing ovation after hitting 15 fours.

Australia wrapped up the England tail quickly. Graeme Swann, on nine, edged the persevering Peter Siddle to Clarke at slip and the same bowler then had James Anderson caught by Hughes at mid-wicket for a duck.

Openers Shane Watson and Chris Rogers then survived seven overs before lunch without any major alarms to reach the interval on 28 for no wicket.

The pair also batted confidently through the first hour of the afternoon session as England struggled for inspiration under blue skies.

Watson peppered the boundary with eight fours and he looked certain to reach his half-century before a lapse in concentration allowed Broad to trap him lbw for 46 with a full-length delivery, ending a stand of 84.

The opener referred the umpire's decision to give him out but replays showed the ball would have hit the stumps and he left the field shaking his head after once again failing to turn a good start into a really significant contribution for his team.

Ed Cowan, on a king pair, got off the mark with a cut for four off Steven Finn and the 35-year-old Rogers reached his first test half-century, off 104 balls and including eight fours.

Cowan was out for 14 three balls before tea, rashly trying to drive a wide ball from part-time spinner Joe Root and edging a simple catch to Jonathan Trott at slip to leave Australia on 111 for two.

Rogers, on 52, tried to work Anderson through the leg side and chipped a simple catch to Bell at mid-wicket.

Clarke and Smith dug in as the tension mounted and survived a couple of huge appeals before the skipper, on 23, feathered Broad through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

The umpire checked to see whether the ball had carried and Clarke then referred the decision, only for it to be confirmed by the television official.

With the crowd still celebrating, Smith was trapped lbw for 17 by Swann and three runs later the England off-spinner removed Hughes for a duck in identical fashion.

Agar, promoted up the order after his superb 98 at number 11 in the first innings, came to the crease and the 19-year-old again showed great composure on his test debut.

He and Haddin batted through the remaining overs with few alarms and Australia will still feel they have a realistic chance of winning this remarkable Test.

EVENING SESSION

Australia chasing a target of 311 ended day four on 174-6 after suffering a sensational collapse.

First innings hero Agar was promoted to stem the rot being there till the close with Haddin who has hit two boundaries so far.

Australia need 137 runs with four wickets in hands on the final day.

Openers Watson (46) and Rogers (52) gave them a steady start posting 84 and were cruising along cautiously before Clarke's dismissal triggered a collapse.

From a solid 161-3, Australia four wickets within the space of four over for the addition of just three runs.

Broad and Swann swung the advantage back to England by grabbing two wickets apiece.

Haddin breaks the shackles by driving Swann through the covers with a classic shot. Aus 171-6 in 66 overs.

Australia's first innings hero has been promoted in the batting order from number 11 to 8. Aus 164-6 in 62 overs.

Sensational bowling by Swann and England are back in the game.

Swann produces a peach of a delivery to trap Hughes on his back foot with England successfully overturning the decision which was originally given not out. Aus 164-6.

P Hughes lbw b Swann 0 (8b 0x4 0x6)

England are now bowling with their tails up with two new batsman Hughes and Haddin in the middle.

Double blow for Australia as Smith is adjudged leg before off Swann. Aus 161-5.

S Smith lbw b Swann 17 (48b 2x4 0x6)

Broad has got a major breakthrough as Clarke nicks behind to Prior with Australia being unsuccessful with the decision review. Aus 161-4.

M Clarke c Prior b Broad 23 (70b 2x4 0x6)

Clarke gets a boundary off an outside to third man off Finn.

Smith drives Anderson through point for his first boundary. Aus 132-2 in 45 overs.

Clarke glances Broad to fine leg for his first boundary. Aus 128-3.

Anderson strikes the first blow after the tea interval as Rogers chips to Bell at midwicket. Aus 124-3.

C Rogers c Bell b Anderson 52 (121b 8x4 0x6)

Australia are 111-2 at the tea interval on day four in the first Ashes Test against England requiring another 200 runs in four sessions.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Australia lost the wickets of Shane Watson and Ed Cowan on the way to 111 for two at tea on the fourth day of the first Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Watson shared a solid opening partnership of 84 with Chris Rogers to give the touring side a good start in their bid to score 311 runs for victory.

But he perished immediately after the drinks break for 46, trapped lbw by a full-length delivery from Stuart Broad.

Cowan fell to part-time spinner Joe Root just before the interval, leaving Rogers unbeaten on 50.

Earlier, Ian Bell made 109 and Broad 65 before England were bowled out for 375 in their second innings.

Bell and Broad, resuming on 326 for six, quickly reached the individual milestones their tenacious partnership deserved.

Mitchell Starc got Australia's day off to a bad start with a wild beamer which went through first slip to the boundary and Broad slashed James Pattinson for four to get to fifty.

Bell pushed Starc for a single to post his 18th test century, a marathon effort of intense concentration lasting more than six hours.

Bell, often criticised for failing to deliver under pressure, leapt up and punched the air after completing his run before raising his bat to all sides of the ground.

The seventh-wicket partnership of 138 ended when Broad edged Pattinson through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

The England fast bowler walked straight off to ironic cheers after the controversial incident on Friday when he edged Ashton Agar to slip and stayed at the wicket having being given not out by the umpire.

FINE DELIVERY

Bell drove Starc to the cover boundary and chopped his next ball for four but he nicked a fine delivery from Starc through to Haddin and left the field to a standing ovation.

He faced 267 balls, hit 15 fours and batted for six-and-a-half hours in an innings which put England firmly in control of the match.

Australia wrapped up the England tail quickly.

Graeme Swann, on nine, edged Peter Siddle to Michael Clarke at slip and James Anderson lasted only two balls before he was caught by Phil Hughes at mid-wicket off the persevering Siddle.

Watson and Rogers survived the seven overs before lunch without any major alarms to reach the interval on 28 for no wicket.

The pair also batted confidently through the first hour of the afternoon session as England struggled for inspiration under blue skies.

Watson peppered the boundary with eight fours and he looked certain to reach his fifty before a lapse in concentration gave Broad England's first breakthrough.

Watson referred the umpire's decision to give him out but replays showed the ball would have hit the stumps and he left the field shaking his head after once again failing to turn a good start into a really significant contribution for his team.

Cowan, on a king pair, got off the mark with a cut for four off Steven Finn before the 35-year-old Rogers reached his first Test fifty, off 104 balls and including eight fours.

Cowan was growing in confidence but, on 14 and just three balls before tea, he tried to drive a wide ball from Root and edged a simple catch to Jonathan Trott at slip.

Cowan is dismissed in the last over before tea as he edges to Trott as first slip attempting a booming drive off Root. Aus 111-2 in 36.4 overs.

E Cowan c Trott b Root 14 (43b 3x4 0x6)

Rogers completes his half century becoming the oldest Australia to score a maiden Test fifty on his debut since Brad Hogg did it five years ago.

Rogers cuts Root in his first over for a boundary. Aus 110-1 in 35 overs.

Cowan cuts Swann through point for another boundary. Aus 104-1 in 32 overs.

Cowan drives Swann through mid-on to bring up the 100 of the Australian second innings.

Cowan opens his account after 16 balls with a boundary off Finn. Aus 92-1 in 29 overs.

Rogers survives after being given out caught behind off Swann being successful in overturning the decision with replays showing their was not bat on it. Aus 85-1 in 26 overs.

Broad strikes in the first ball after the drinks interval trapping Watson leg before with Australia being unsuccessful with the decision review. Aus 84-1.

S Watson lbw b Broad 46 (74b 8x4 0x6)

Rogers jabs Broad through slips for another boundary to third man. Aus 81-0 in 23 overs.

Watson glides Broad past backward point for a boundary.

Watson and Rogers hit a boundary apiece off Swann. Aus 68-0 in 18 overs.

Watson smashes a boundary off Swann. Aus 47-0 in 14 overs.

Rogers clips Anderson to square leg for his first boundary after lunch. Aus 39-0 in 11 overs.

Watson cracks Swann through the covers in the first over after lunch. Aus 33-0 in 8 overs.

Steady start by Australia Rogers (10) and Watson (18) in pursuit of 311.

Watson cracks consecutive boundaries off Anderson with a cover drive and edge to third man as Australia take lunch day four at 28 for no loss in 7 overs chasing a target of 311. 

Australia have more than five sessions to get a target of 311 after bowling out England in their second innings for 375 half an hour before lunch on day four in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

England lost their last four wickets for 19 runs after a compelling 138-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Ian Bell (109) and Stuart Broad (65).

Starc claimed three for 81 and Siddle three for 85.

MORNING SESSION

Australia, needing 311 runs for victory, moved on to 28 for no wicket at lunch on the fourth day of the first Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Ian Bell made 109 and Stuart Broad 65 before England were bowled out for 375 in their second innings.

Bell and Broad, resuming on 326 for six, quickly reached the individual milestones their tenacious partnership deserved.

Mitchell Starc got Australia's day off to a bad start with a wild beamer which went through first slip to the boundary and Broad slashed James Pattinson for four to get to fifty.

Bell pushed Starc for a single to post his 18th test century, a marathon effort of intense concentration lasting more than six hours.

Bell, often criticised for failing to deliver under pressure, leapt up and punched the air after completing his run before raising his bat to all sides of the ground.

The seventh-wicket partnership of 138 ended when Broad edged Pattinson through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

The England fast bowler walked straight off to ironic cheers after the controversial incident on Friday when he edged Ashton Agar to slip and stayed at the wicket having being given not out by the umpire.

Bell drove Starc to the cover boundary and chopped his next ball for four but he nicked a fine delivery from Starc through to Haddin and left the field to a standing ovation.

He faced 267 balls, hit 15 fours and batted for six and a half hours in an innings which put England firmly in control of the match.

Australia wrapped up the England tail quickly.

Graeme Swann, on nine, edged Peter Siddle to Michael Clarke at slip and James Anderson lasted only two balls before he was caught by Phil Hughes at mid-wicket off the persevering Siddle.

Australia openers Shane Watson and Chris Rogers survived the seven overs before lunch without any major alarms, Watson hitting four crisp boundaries to signal the touring side's positive intent at the start of their run chase.


Rogers slams another boundary off Broad jabbing him through the covers. Aus 20-0 in 6 overs.

Rogers hits his first boundary flicking Broad to square leg.

Watson hits the first boundary of the Australian second innings flicking Anderson through midwicket and then another one to the square leg fence off consecutive balls. Aus 10-0 in 3 overs.

Anderson begins with a beauty beating the outside edge of Watson with the first ball of Australia's second innings.

ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS

England are bowled out for 375 in their second innings with Siddle picking up the last two wickets.

J Anderson c Hughes b Siddle 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Siddle strikes as England lose their ninth wicket having a lead of 310. Eng 375-9.

G Swann c Clarke b Siddle 9 (28b 1x4 0x6)

Bell's wonderful knock comes to an end as he gets a faint nick behind to Haddin off Starc. Eng 372-8.

I Bell c Haddin b Starc 109 (267b 15x4 0x6)

Swann cracks Siddle for a boundary to third man as England march on. Eng 371-7 in 146 overs.

England's lead is now 300 with three wickets in hand. Eng 365-7 in 145 overs.

Bell breaks the shackles by cracking consecutive boundaries off Siddle with a classic drive through the covers and a late cut to third man. Eng 364-7 in 144 overs.

Pattinson also bowls a maiden over to Swann.

Siddle bowls a maiden to Bell.

Pattinson finally ends the telling seventh wicket partnership of 138 runs as Haddin latches onto an edge behind off Broad. Eng 356-7.

S Broad c Haddin b Pattinson 65 (148b 7x4 0x6)

Broad slams another boundary through mid-on off Siddle's first over. Eng 355-6 in 140 overs.

Bell completes his 18th Test century which contained 13 fours. Eng 341-6 in 136 overs.

Broad edges Pattinson through the slips for a boundary to third man. Eng 339-6 in 135 overs.

Bell smashes a full toss from Starc for a boundary in the first over of the day to move to 99.

England resumed on 326 for six on the fourth day of the first Ashes Test against Australia at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

CONTROVERSY

A controversial incident involving England's Stuart Broad was played down by players from both sides after a gripping third day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Friday.

The blond all-rounder edged spinner Ashton Agar on to the gloves of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and through to Michael Clarke at slip but, with the Australian players celebrating, umpire Aleem Dar did not raise his finger.

Broad refused to "walk", leaving the Australian players shaking their heads in disbelief and sparking a huge debate on Twitter about the spirit of cricket.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen said his team mate was within his rights not to "walk".

"Each and every player at every level of the game has the opportunity to wait for the umpire's decision," Pietersen told a news conference after England ended the day on 326 for six in their second innings, an overall lead of 261 runs.

"Aleem Dar is a fantastic umpire. We play our cricket hard and fair."

Australia were unable to send the decision to the third umpire because they had used up their two referrals but fast bowler Peter Siddle said they were not feeling frustrated.

"You have to use referrals when you think you have a chance of taking wickets," he said. "You can't just keep them in your pocket in case you get one later in the game."

Siddle, who has taken six wickets in the match, was philosophical about the incident.

NO BIG DEAL

"At the end of the day it's the umpire's decision," he said. "It's hard out there for players and umpires.

"It is just part of the game and you can't be blaming anyone. There wasn't a big deal made of it by us."

Pietersen said it had not even been discussed in the England dressing room.

"We are only worried about the lead we have and are fully focused on winning this test match," said Pietersen who hit 64 before Broad (47) and Ian Bell (95) shared an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 108.

The Broad incident raised concerns about relations between the teams for the remainder of the five-match series.

"I do hope this doesn't set the tone for the rest of the series," said BBC radio commentator Jonathan Agnew. "Looking at the replays Broad doesn't look comfortable to me.

"He looks like a boy who has been sent into the corner in disgrace. There will be questions about how England play the game."

Most commentators blamed Dar's poor decision, rather than levelling criticism at the England player.

"There is no debate, it's quite simple," former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott told the BBC.

"The Australians I have played with and have watched, with the exception of Adam Gilchrist, believe in staying (at the crease) and it's up to the umpire to give you out - there shouldn't be a moral argument.

"They should be upset, disappointed and angered by the umpires," Boycott added. "If they keep making poor decisions it's up to the ICC (International Cricket Council) to do something about it."

Former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath agreed.

"To me it has to be the umpire," he said. "A player is allowed to stand his ground.

"If Australia had one appeal left Broad would have walked. The fact there was no referral left, he left it up to the umpire."