What a great advert the Trent Bridge opener was for Test cricket. The spectators certainly had their money's worth. Indeed, after the events of day one, they were lucky the match even extended to the Sunday. Along came Ashton Agar, then Ian Bell and we had a proper five-day game on our hands.
The result says England won by fourteen runs, a piffling margin by first-class cricket standards. Yet were the two sides really that close? The marketing and TV execs, not to mention the Aussie team and fans, will say so, and we want a closer series than the form book had suggested before the start. However, that Australia produced a genuine contest owed almost everything to a couple of last-wicket partnerships worth 225, including that world record effort a few days ago. The rest of the contest was definitely England's, as Jimmy Anderson showed why he is one of the two best bowlers in the world, and Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook contributed runs which Cowan and Clarke would have killed for!
A lot has been said about a few key umpiring decisions, from the Stuart Broad controversy to the review which ended the match in anticlimactic fashion. Of course, Broad should have been given out; it was blatant, but you can't blame Michael Clarke for having run out of reviews. While I am disgusted at Broad's refusal to 'walk', it's no surprise because 99% of modern cricketers would have done the same thing. With regards to the last play of the match, I was watching on the TV and heard a distinct noise. Hotspot seemed to agree but for me the telling proof came by watching Brad Haddin look behind immediately after the missed stroke. When you nick the ball, it's human nature to check to see if you've been caught. Haddin would have heard and felt contact. It's just a pity that such a nerve-jangling finale came down to the third umpire.
However, while Anderson picked up the Man of the Match award for his ten wickets, surely the contest will be remembered more for that sensational debut innings from teenage spinner Ashton Agar. He didn't just break the world record for a number eleven, he accomplished it with such style and coolness. His rueful grin at being caught going for the century said it all. He'll probably never play such an innings again. In fact, with the ACB selectors' track record, he may not bowl again at this level for years, either. However, the well-deserved applause from both sets of fans, and millions of TV viewers should ring in his ears for the rest of his life.
