Ashes 2013: Anderson Inspires England to Thrilling First Test Win

James Anderson took the final wicket in controversial circumstances as England beat Australia by 14 runs on day five of the thrilling first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

England take a 1-0 lead in the five match series after Brad Haddin (71) edged Anderson to Matt Prior, a decision that after originally been given not out on the field, but was reversed by third umpire Marias Erasmus as Australia were bowled out for 296 and 15 runs short of the target of 311 to win.

Victory represents the first time England have won the first test of an Ashes series since 1997 but they looked on the brink of defeat after Haddin and James Pattinson put on 65 for the 10<sup>th wicket.

Anderson finished with match figures of 10 for 158 after dismissing Ashton Agar (14) Mitchell Starc (1) and Peter Siddle (11) to three catches in the slips by captain Alastair Cook before taking the final wicket of Haddin.

The finale evoked memories of the second Test of the 2005 series at Edgbaston, and produced similar euphoria for England after being given a scare by a resolute Australia, who made a mockery of pre-series predictions with an impressive showing throughout - dominated by the heroics of debutant Ashton Agar.

But the nature of the final wicket came with some irony after a test match dominated by the controversial review system, with the inconclusiveness of the final hot spot replay again raising questions about its accuracy.

It had taken the hosts less than an hour to make the first breakthrough on day five as Agar, who made 98 in the first innings in his maiden test match, departed for just 14 as he edged to Cook at first slip.

As the tourists went within 100 runs to win England took the second scalp of the morning as Starc edged Anderson to Cook, who clung on despite the low bounce of a tiring Trent Bridge wicket.

The skipper dropped new man Siddle early on but produced a stunning effort to dismiss the Aussie tail-ender as Anderson once again found the edge and put England on the brink with Australia still 80 runs from victory.

Three successive boundaries off Steven Finn allowed Brad Haddin, who had looked to attack through day five, to reach 50 to give Australia hope.

James Pattinson swatted Swann over mid-wicket for six as the pair brought up their 50 partnership in 46 balls as the away side went within 30 of the most unlikely of wins.

Jonny Bairstow missed the stumps when Haddin was half-way down the pitch and Finn dropped the wicket-keeper batsman at deep square-leg as Australia went within 20 at the lunch break as the tension reached an unbearable level.

And within three overs of the restart England had the prized final wicket as Haddin's inside edge found Prior's gloves, and despite Aleem Dar not raising his figure, the decision was subsequently reviewed successfully to hand the home side the win.