Australia - 1st Innings - 280 (64.5 overs)
England - 2nd Innings - 375 (149.5 overs)
Australia - 2nd Innings - 296 (110.5 overs)
ENGLAND WIN BY 14 RUNS
After winning the toss ahead of the first day of the 2013 Ashes Series, England decided to bat first. With much expectation resting on the hosts, England seemed to have suffered under the pressure in the first innings, putting on a rather disappointing 215 before being bowled out and sending the visitors into bat. Jonathan Trott was the only batsmen to put in a reasonable display but he fell two short of the first half century of the 2013 Ashes Series. Both Joe Root and Alastair Cook opened and in turn, underperformed in what was an intriguing first day at Trent Bridge. Peter Siddle was the hero of the day as he took five impressive wickets to give Australia a slight advantage.
However, Australia too were finding it difficult with the bat, after finding themselves over 100 runs behind England with just one wicket remaining, due to another first class performance from arguably the best bowler around in modern times, James Anderson collecting five more wickets to add to his ever-growing tally. Little expectation lay on Ashton Agar's young shoulders when he came to the crease. But Trent Bridge was about to see some batting masterclass from an inexperienced batsmen. Agar, despite almost finding himself walking back early on, put in a display that shocked cricket, but the young Aussie couldn't quite complete the perfect display when he fell two short of a century after Swann caught his shot off Broad's ball.
Back came England, with one part of them saying they got lucky because they put in a poor first innings display yet are in with a chance of winning the first test. However, the other part of them frustrated that they couldn't dismiss Agar and find themselves with a healthy lead. England needed someone to step up the plate, someone to put them within arms reach of the first test, the answer simply, Ian Bell. He spent over six hours at the crease, it was a performance of the highest quality and maturity and he fully deserved to claim the first century of the series. Cook, Pietersen and especially Broad also put in good displays. However, Broad was surrounded by controversy when he decided not to walk when Australia claimed a clear nick but the umpires took it upstairs, hot spot failed to show any nick so Broad stayed in, to the frustration of the Australia team, this was not going to be the only problem with the system in this test, nonetheless England were on the front foot.
Australia knew they needed 311 runs to take the first test at Trent Bridge, and they started in perfect fashion as Shane Watson and Chris Rogers looked solid with their opening partnership easing past the 50 mark, but they took a blow when Watson fell to an lbw, in which he wrongfully reviewed, leaving only one review left. England pounced on this chance and took Cowan out for 14 before dismissing Rogers on 52 leaving Australia on a steady 124/3. Then came the real damage. England dismissed Michael Clarke after Prior took a good catch, but after some confusion over the hot spot system, Clarke had to walk even though the decision was very tight.
This wicket was followed by dismissals to Steven Smith and Phil Hughes as Anderson again destroyed the lower batting order and was awarded the man of the match with his 10 wickets over the test. England were suddenly in complete control. Brad Haddin kept fighting and his half century left some of the fans biting their nails but in the end it was too much for Haddin as Matt Prior took a low catch to give England a dramatic first test win.
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