England began the final day of the first Ashes Test match looking for four wickets to gain an early advantage in the series.
They appeared to be coasting to victory after reducing Australia to 231-9, still 80 runs adrift of their target of 311.
However, Brad Haddin and James Pattinson launched a remarkable last-wicket fightback to take them to the brink of a famous win.
But with just 15 more required, James Anderson found the edge of Haddin's bat to win the match for his side and record match figures of 10-158.
Read below to see how the drama unfolded at Trent Bridge.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the final day of the first Ashes Test match between England and Australia.
So then, is it just me who feels that this opening Test match has been going a lot longer than four days? Thought not. There has been enough drama in this match alone for an entire Test series, not just one match. What does today have in store?
England go into today just four wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead in the series, while Australia require another 137 runs to reach their target of 311. England are favourites, and rightly so, but nothing is a certainty in an Ashes Test match.
At one point yesterday, it looked as though Australia were going to ease to their target. They coasted to 84-0 losing Shane Watson, and they had taken their score to 161-3 with an hour to go of the day. It just goes to show that it only takes 15 minutes for the momentum to change.
Brad Haddin and Ashton Agar are the two men who will come to the crease for Australia. It's asking too much for Agar to produce the heroics on his first innings (surely?), but he has already proven that he has the talent that a number 11 batsman shouldn't possess, while Haddin is experienced, and will have the battling qualities to make an impact. This match certainly shouldn't be treated as if it is done and dusted.
It will be interesting to see who opens up for England this morning. We are only nine overs away from the second new ball, so you would expect to see Graeme Swann at one end, but as for the other, who knows. Alastair Cook might want to keep James Anderson fresh for the new ball.
The conditions at Trent Bridge are a little different to previous days. While it is still humid, it is slightly overcast, which could help out the bowlers, especially when the new ball gets taken.
Australia captain Michael Clarke has endured a mixed match, but he still believes that his team can pull off a victory today. Read what he had to say after yesterday's play here.
We are less than 10 minutes away from the action getting underway at Trent Bridge. Who's your money on? I think England will manage to get over the line, but Australia will certainly make it tough for them.
Here come England, lead by Alastair Cook, and they are closely followed by the two Australia batsmen. Do Haddin and Agar sit tight, or do they go for their shots?
Swann is the man who has been handed the ball, and he immediately has Agar on the defensive. The left-hander tries to cut a couple of deliveries, but the ball is struck straight to the fielder. Maiden over.
Anderson is on at the other end, which is slightly surprising, in my opinion. He's right on the money with the first three deliveries, before Matt Prior comes up to the stumps to prevent Haddin batting outside his crease. Close call for Haddin, who sees his cut shot go past Swann at second slip, and the ball races to the boundary.
Another solid over from Swann, who is giving Agar no room to play the shots that we witnessed in the first innings. The youngster has one run from 36 balls.
Prior continues to stand at the stumps to Anderson, but it forces him to react sharply when the ball misses the outside edge of Haddin's bat. Another maiden, the third of the morning so far.
Slightly risky from Agar, who plays the sweep right in front of his stumps, but he connects perfectly to pick up two runs. Swann soon has him back on the defensive though, and he is fortunate not to play the ball onto his stumps.
Haddin plays a decent drive off the front foot, but it is well fielded. Anderson is doing well to subdue the wicket-keeper, but the 35-year-old is holding firm.
Ashton Agar now has a better batting average than Don Bradman. He should just retire now, shouldn't he? He plays a fine shot down the ground for a single, to allow Swann to bowl to Haddin for the first time this morning. He finds some turn to the right-hander, who mis-cues a drive for one.
England have bowled in a controlled manner this morning, which makes you wonder whether they will take the new ball at the end of the next over. Another maiden from Anderson, finding some uneven bounce with the last delivery.
Agar couldn't have played that cut shot much later, but he connects for a single. Australia are more aggressive in this over, and Haddin powers a sweep to the boundary. The right-hander shows more intent off the final ball, but his drive is stopped by the fielder.
Anderson gets his first chance to bowl to Agar, but the 19-year-old is up to the task, sending the ball to the third-man boundary, before playing out the rest of the over solidly. Australia require 120.
Swann flies through the over, adding another maiden to his figures. That should be the last of Swann for a while, because Alastair Cook has opted to take the new ball.
Close! Anderson finds some movement with the first ball, which smacks into Agar's pads, but it is going down the leg side. Agar gets off strike with another well-timed cut shot, before Haddin plays the same shot for two.
Broad is brought into the attack, and although he is slightly inconsistent, he almost takes the wicket of the 19-year-old, who plays and misses at the last delivery of the over.
Is that a good shot, or a bit of good fortune? Haddin lofts the ball just over the fielders for two, but it wasn't perfectly timed. Australia pick up two byes, but Haddin looks to have hurt himself with his despairing dive. Well, it looked that way anyway, but he smashes the next delivery to the boundary to bring up the 200 for Australia.
I think it's a safe prediction that Agar will never bat at number 11 again. He has oozed class with the bat, and he shows that once more with a cut shot that flies past point and to the rope. However, he is bamboozled when the final keeps low and just misses his off stump.
WICKET! Agar (14) c Cook b Anderson
I always seem to have this effect on batsman! It was more the quality of Anderson, than a mistake by Agar though. Anderson opts to come around the wicket and it pays dividends, with the left-hander edging to Cook at slip. Mitchell Starc is in at number nine, but he nearly records a golden duck after playing and missing at a wide delivery. England need three more wickets, while Australia require 104 runs.
Australia start the over with a couple of singles, but Haddin very nearly edges the ball onto his stumps with the third ball of the over. He gets lucky again when mis-timing a drive, but the ball fails to find the fielder. 100 runs needed.
WICKET! Starc (1) c Cook b Anderson
Super, super bowling from Anderson, who pitches the ball up to Starc who edges the ball straight to Cook. It's the same combination as the last dismissal, and it has taken England closer to victory. Peter Siddle is the new batsman, and he plays the rest of the over out to hand Anderson a wicket-maiden.
You would think that Haddin and Siddle might go into their shell until lunch, but that theory has been dismissed by the latter, who records back-to-back boundaries. The first was a streaky drive that went inbetween the fielders, but the second was a well-timed flick off his pads.
It's Haddin's turn to go on the attack, picking up two runs with a shot to deep point, before adding another with a sharply-taken run between the wickets. He has now moved to 35. Siddle adds another to Australia's total off the final delivery of the over.
Interesting move from Cook, who brings Swann back into the attack. Siddle comes down the ground for one to bring Haddin on strike, who just survives when the ball keeps low and misses the off stump by a whisker. Australia need another 86.
DROP! The Anderson/Cook combination should have their third wicket, but Cook drops a sharp chance at first slip off Siddle. In fairness, it wasn't the easiest of chances, but it should have been taken. Will he live to regret that?
That's so unlucky. Swann's fourth delivery beats Haddin on the inside and just avoids leg stump. To add insult to injury, the ball races away for four. Two balls later, he finds more movement, but again, he can't hit the stumps. Plenty of encouragement for the crowd favourite.
WICKET! Siddle (11) c Cook b Anderson
This Ashes Test is getting so predictable...! Cook redeems himself from that drop a couple of overs ago with an excellent catch off the bowling of Anderson. The relief on his face was for all to see! Anderson needs one more for five for the innings and 10 for the match. He strikes James Pattinson on the pads near the end of the over, but it is going down the leg side. Australia still need another 79.
Swann serves up a full toss for Pattinson, who gets the ball away for one. Cook is expecting aggression from Haddin so moves his field back a touch, but the wicket-keeper prods the ball down the ground for a single.
Anderson is into his 13th over of the morning, and it might be his last. He is beginning to look slightly weary now, and Cook may decide to bring on Broad or Finn after a couple of deliveries go down the leg side, with one warranting four leg byes.
That's just downright bizarre. Haddin sweeps the ball down to deep fine leg, but Finn doesn't pick it and is left looking rather silly as the ball shoots a few yards to his left to the boundary. Haddin plays the same shot on the next ball, but Finn collects it this time, to ironic cheers.
FIFTY! As predicted, Cook withdraws Anderson and replaces him with Finn, but Haddin welcomes him to the crease with back-to-back boundaries to bring up his 11th fifty in 45 Test matches. He then clubs another over mid on, before nudging the ball down to third man for two. Australia now need just 49. This game isn't over!
Pattinson nicks a single to get Haddin back to strike, who continues his positive hitting with another sweep to Finn at deep square leg. Given the state of the match, we are going an extra half hour.
Remember the Ashes Test at Edgbaston in 2005, which was dubbed the greatest Test ever? This is beginning to go down that road. Finn continues, but he is getting hit all around the ground, this time by Pattinson. He's unlucky on the last delivery, the ball nipping back inside the bat of Pattinson and past Prior for four. 38 more needed...
This is such an onslaught from Australia. Pattinson hits a huge six over midwicket and the tourists now need just 30! These pair have brought up the fifty partnership in 46 deliveries.
Broad is back into the attack, and he bowls the ball full with all six deliveries, keeping Pattinson on the back foot. The crowd thought that this match was over, but they are well into this game now! Anderson is going off the field with cramp, which is a big blow to England.
Haddin hits the ball for a single off the first delivery, to get Pattinson back on strike. Swann is struggling to find the right length, but he manages to get through the over without conceding another run. You can feel the tension in Nottingham! Now Swann is leaving the field, maybe just for a comfort break.
That would have been some ending! A mix-up between Haddin and Pattinson leaves Haddin stranded, but Bairstow misses the stumps from about 12 yards. What an opportunity! Broad then goes so close to the edge of Pattinson's bat with the off-cutter. 28 needed.
Drama! Haddin picks up another two, but he should be gone two balls later. The wicket-keeper sweeps the ball in the air towards Finn, who lets the ball go through his hands when diving for the catch. The 35-year-old then hits the ball against his own pads, with the ball just missing the stumps. Unbelievable!
Pattinson directs the ball down to third man for a single, and Haddin adds another with a drive down the ground. England most definitely don't want another over here, Broad even has his boot off with a ball to go! Bit obvious, but against the spirit of the game? After all that, we are still going to have one more over before lunch.
Haddin indicates early that he just wants to see this over out, moving onto the front foot to defend. Swann switches to around the wicket, but it's to no avail. What a time to have lunch!
What a session. Australia looked out of it at 231-9 but Haddin and Pattinson are on the brink of completing one of the most memorable last-wicket stands in Ashes history, which isn't the first time that we have said that in this match!
We will be back with you after lunch. I would advise you not to miss it, but I've got a feeling that you have already made your decision. See you in 30 minutes.
Welcome back everyone. I trust that you have all had a drink...and perhaps a lie down after the drama of the morning session!
We are just moments away from the resumption of play. England need one wicket. Australia need 20 runs. Who will win? Your guess is as good as mine...that's if I was brave enough to guess!
The two sides are out to a huge ovation. Jimmy Anderson has been handed the ball after recovering from cramp. Here we go!
Wow. Anderson nearly picks up that all-important wicket with the second ball, but Pattinson just avoids chopping the ball onto his own stumps. Decent over from the pace bowler. Who will be handed the ball at the other end?
The answer to that last question is Graeme Swann. Haddin hits the first run after lunch with a shot down the ground, before Pattinson picks up three with a huge inside edge that almost goes to the boundary. Crucial runs. Haddin adds another single off the final ball, and Australia require just 15.
ENGLAND WIN THE FIRST TEST MATCH BY 14 RUNS!
What a way to finish a Test match, but would you expect anything less? Haddin appears to nick the ball behind, but there is no response from the umpire. England immediately review, and hotspot shows the slightest...the slightest inside edge and the decision is overturned. Remarkable.
I've never seen such a reaction from an England side after the umpire raised his finger. They know how much this means. Spare a thought for Brad Haddin and James Pattinson, though. They have done Australia proud in the last hour.
In case you didn't know, we've still got another four of these.
Here is the reaction of James Anderson, who has surely bagged himself the man of the match award with match figures of 10-158. The fast bowler tells Sky Sports: "Incredible. We knew that it wasn't going to be easy at the start of the day. I thought the guys stuck together well, and we are delighted to get the win."
That will be all for us this afternoon. If you thought that we might get a break until our next offering, think again. The second Test starts at Lord's on Thursday! Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
