England fast bowler James Anderson was the hero on day five of the first Ashes Test against Australia, taking all four wickets required to record 10 scalps for the match and secure a tension-filled 14-run win for his side.
Anderson became Trent Bridge’s leading wicket-taker during the game, and for good reason, as Australia needed 137 runs on the final day and got agonisingly close, but were unable to cross the line as Anderson removed Brad Haddin after lunch.
The atmosphere inside the ground reached unbearable proportions by lunch, with Australia’s vice-captain recording a half century, and his tail end partners contributing too, as they went into the late lunch break needing 20 to win. Fittingly, the final wicket to fall was decided by DRS after the on-field umpire said no to the feather-light edge.
The Aussies started the day with Haddin and first innings hero Ashton Agar in the middle, on 11 and one respectively, needing 137 to win. The winnings core at this ground, was, and still is, 284, and they had made good inroads on day four.
The first hour put the cat amongst the pigeons, as Haddin and Agar resisted all comers as England couldn’t find swing despite the cloudy skies. Agar faced 71 deliveries for his 14 runs, and was gutted to get out to Anderson with the score on 207.
The new ball continued to do the trick for the Lancashire paceman, as he added Mitchell Starc to his records four runs later. Peter Siddle stuck with Haddin till 231 was on the board, surviving a dropped catch.
But Alastair Cook, who had dropped the relatively easy catch at slip, made up for his blunder and took a full stretch one-handed catch a few overs later. This left Haddin with one partner left, Pattinson.
The pair put a rush on the runs, and at one stage hit Steve Finn’s first over of the day for 15 runs. This reduced the required runs into the 30s, and it really was ‘squeaky bum time’ for England. Finn then dropped Haddin in the deep as his horror day continued.
After lunch, with the final pair having put on a half century stand, Anderson took the ball. The ball flew off edges, byes were given, appeals were made, until finally Haddin got a slight edge. Kumar Dharmasena said no, but England had used their reviews well and Hot Spot showed a faint edge.
The second Test starts on Thursday 18 July, at Lord’s, where one imagines Usman Khawaja could come in for Ed Cowan for the Aussies, and Steve Finn will make way for either Tim Bresnan or Graham Onions.
