What an amazing first two sessions of cricket overnight at Trent Bridge. I held on to watch the Starc hatrick ball and then shuffled my way to the land of nod. The remainder of the post tea session seems to have seen the way many expect this game return to type with England grinding Australia down. Still it was a day for fans of cricke to savior. Here are my 5 talking points:

Agar the Magnificent

What an effort from A Agar! OK so he is clearly not a number 11 batsman but under pressure in one’s first test that was a mighty display from this young man. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves though: he was picked to bowl for Australia and has a massive job to do now

Hughes: the effective crab

Phil Hughes produced the innings many of us have been waiting for: he was patient and assured when all around him was in the eye of a cyclone of indecision. When Agar came to the crease he assessed his ability and went with him. That said, Chanderpaul aside, is there a more bespoke method in the whole of cricket?

Finn: the great provider

I have followed many English cricket fans in my couple of years on twitter and blogging and the consensus regularly is that he will take wickets for you but he can be mightily expensive. Last night’s display was woeful and set the tone for Australia’s comeback. Absent a bag of wickets in the 4th inning that wretched 4 over spell may see him out for the next test.

DRS: again in the news

Whether the decisions (Agar’s stumping and Trott’s LBW) were right or wrong the system is flawed because it is still capable of 100% accuracy. You will never convince me that there is a better system than letter the umpires make the decisions on the field.

Australia’s other batting: what happened to leaving the ball?

Australia’s dismissals largely have a similarity about them that is concerning: we seem to have lost the ability to leave the ball outside off stump. This must be rectified because Jimmy Anderson is just going to destroy us with swing if we do not get this right!

All in all: another day replete with Ashes moments. What will day 3 bring?