16 Jul 2013

Australia go down fighting

7:50 am on 16 July 2013

For the first time since 1997 England have taken a 1-0 lead at the start of an Ashes cricket series, but only after a nerve-wracking 14-run win on the final day at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Pace bowler James Anderson was England's hero on the final day picking up the last four Australian wickets, after Australia's last pair Brad Haddin and James Pattinson had shared a 10th-wicket partnership of 65 runs which almost carried them to an astonishing win.

The Australian captain Michael Clarke says England were deserving winners, but he couldn't speak highly enough of his team's fighting spirit.

Clarke refused to blame the Decision Review System, which played a significant part in the match and seemed to conspire against the Australians.

The second test starts at Lord's on Thursday night.