Touring side on top at tea on day two of the first Ashes Test against England.
Australia continue to hit-back in the first Ashes Test against England with Mitchell Starc making the most of a tricky period before tea.
The left-arm fast bowler claimed the wickets of Joe Root and Jonathan Trott in consecutive balls to leaving the home side in trouble at 11-2, still 54 runs behind Australia.
Root was sent packing early in the innings after he got a faint edge down the leg-side off Starc with the England pair declining to review it, with the hosts lost their first wicket on 11.
Starc then welcomed Trott to the crease with a full in-swinging delivery that prompted a loud appeal from the Australia’s which was turned down
However, Australian captain Michael Clarke elected to review the decision, and despite some doubt about whether late movement on the ball was an inside edge or continued in-swing, the on-field decision was overturned and Trott was out for a golden duck.
In what will be a talking points for days, the side ‘hot-spot’ camera which would have given definitive evidence as if Trott hit the ball, was not recording after Root’s edge the ball before.
It was the second time Starc has been on a hat-trick in the game, with the New South Welshman getting the chance to secure the rare feat when the sides return from Tea.
However, the hat-trick ball to Keven Pietersen was well wide of the stumps with the Englishman letting it go through to Brad Haddin.
The heroics in the field by Australia followed on a stunning last-wicket stand by Ashton Agar and Phil Hughes who broke just about every record available to them in helping their side to 280.
Agar went tantalisingly close to scoring a century on debut from the unheard of position of a number 11 batsman only to be caught out at deep mid-wicket hooking a ball while on 98.
While Hughes showed great poise not to throw away his wicket with a rash shot, as he finished with a well-earned 81 not out.
Scoreboard
England v Australia
Played at Trent Bridge
Toss won by England
England 1st Innings 215 (P Siddle 5-50; J Pattinson 3-69)
Australia 1st Innings (overnight: 75-4)
S. Watson c Root b Finn 13
C. Rogers lbw b Anderson 16
E. Cowan c Swann b Finn 0
M. Clarke b Anderson 0
S. Smith c Prior b Anderson 53
P. Hughes not out 81
B. Haddin b Swann 1
P. Siddle c Prior b Anderson 1
M. Starc c Prior b Anderson 0
J. Pattinson lbw b Swann 2
A. Agar c Swann b Broad 98
Extras (lb15) 15
Total (all out, 64.5 overs, 293 mins) 280
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Watson), 2-19 (Cowan), 3-22 (Clarke), 4-53 (Rogers), 5-108 (Smith), 6-113 (Haddin), 7-114 (Siddle), 8-114 (Starc), 9-117 (Pattinson), 10-280 (Agar)
Bowling: Anderson 24-2-85-5; Finn 15-0-80-2; Swann 19-4-60-2; Broad 6.5-0-40-1;
England 2nd Innings
A. Cook not out 4
J. Root c Haddin b Starc 5
J. Trott lbw b Starc 0
Extras (b1, nb1) 2
Total (2 wkts, 7.4 overs, 39 mins) 11
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Root)
To bat: K Pietersen, I Bell, J Bairstow, M Prior, S Broad, G Swann, S Finn, J Anderson
Bowling: Pattinson 4-1-8-0 (1nb); Starc 3.4-2-2-2;
Match position: England are 54 runs behind Australia with eight second innings wickets standing.
Toss: England
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