Australia failed by just 14 runs to win a dramatic first Test at Trent Bridge as the controversial umpire decision review system had the final say.

A defiant Brad Haddin (71) was given not out to a caught behind appeal off England hero Jimmy Anderson by umpire Aleem Dar.

 

However England reviewed the decision, celebrated when they saw the hotspot replay, then celebrated again when Dar finally reversed his decision.

 

James Pattinson was unbeaten on 25 in a last wicket partnership of 65 as Australia was bowled out for 296 chasing a victory target of 311 for what would have been a record run chase at Trent Bridge.

 

It was the first time England has won the opening Test of an Ashes series in 16 years. 

As the winning target was reduced and the tension grew memories of Edgbaston 2005 were revived, when Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz added 59 for the final wicket before Australia lost by just two. 

 

Brought back as vice-captain for this series after being dropped, Haddin resumed on 11 with Australia still needing 137 to win.

 

The greatest successful run chase ever staged at Trent Bridge was the 284 England ran down against New Zealand in 2004. 

 

With 29 needed to win Haddin almost ran himself out and with 26 required he survived a difficult chance when Steve Finn launched himself at deep backward square leg but failed to grasp the hard hit sweep. The ball went for four. 

A deadly combination of Anderson (5-73) and England captain Alastair Cook at first slip combined three times as Australia lost 3-24 against the second new ball.

 

Haddin smashed three boundaries in a row off Steven Finn to bring up his 11th half century in 45 Tests in an over that cost 15, reducing the target to 49. 

 

Ashton Agar was unable to repeat his batting heroics from earlier in the match.

Coming off a blazing 98 in the first innings, Agar was caught by Cook off Anderson for a patient 14 which consumed 71 balls with Australia still requiring 104 for victory.

 

Mitchell Starc went the same way for just one in Anderson’s next over and Australia was 8-211, needing another 100 to win.

 

There were groans of anguish from the often silent sell-out crowd when Cook dropped Peter Siddle on 10 off Anderson with Australia needing 86 to win.

 

However Cook snaffled the next chance off Siddle (11) in Anderson’s following over, prompting more wild celebrations with Australia needing 80 to win. 

 

Promoted from number 11 to number eight in the batting order Agar, the 19-year-old debutant, added 43 with Haddin for the seventh wicket in more than an hour and a half.

 

Australia resumed at 6-174 requiring another 137 runs for victory and took the score to 207 before Agar fell.

 

Agar had played carefully and comfortably against the quality off-spin of Graeme Swann, taking 15 balls to score his first runs of the morning, sweeping for two. 

Haddin brought up the first boundary of the morning after almost half an hour, swinging Swann forward of square leg.And Agar collected his first four of the innings in the following over, driving a full, wide delivery from Anderson to the backward point boundary.

 

Haddin and Agar had a minor victory, seeing off Swann.

 

With no sign of a wicket Cook took the second new ball after 82 over but strangely had just two slips in place, indicating the lack of bounce in the slow, dry pitch.

Haddin clearly decided to take the new ball on when he could.

 

At the beginning of Anderson’s second over with the new ball Haddin sliced a shot over mid-off for two and then after tumbling awkwardly scrambling a second leg bye slashed the last delivery of the over deep beyond cover to the boundary.

This productive few minutes left Australia needing 105 for victory and seemed to prompt at least a hint of panic by England.

 

Cook kept himself as the only slip, pushing extra men deep on both sides of the wicket to have four on the boundary.

 

But then suddenly the game changed when Agar nicked to Cook three balls later.  

 

England has won the last two Ashes series but did not claim the first Test in either, holding on for draws in matches dominated by Australia.

 

Edgbaston in 1997 is the last time England won the first Test of a series but did not bring ultimate joy, with Australia going 3-1 up before losing the final Test.

 

The last time England won the first Test and went on to take the series was 2-1 in 1986-87, Mike Gatting’s only two victories as England captain. (TheDailyTelegraph)