Clarke still hopeful of winning first Ashes Test despite late session collapse

Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that he is hopeful that his side can still regain advantage and win the first Test match after England wrestled back advantage with the help of its bowlers Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann with three wickets in the final hour on Saturday.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Clarke's dismissal triggered a collapse of 3-3 in 18 balls and Australia lurched to 6-174 at stumps, 137 short of the victory target.

The report further said that Australia's hopes of chasing down their 311-run target now rest with first-innings hero Ashton Agar, who has been promoted to number eight, and the rest of the Australian tail.

However, Clarke has not yet lost heart, saying that he is still confident that Australia has a chance to win this Test match after the way Agar played in the first innings, with the same freedom and confidence, coupled with the experience of Brad Haddin and the other batsmen, that are yet to come.

The report further said that Australia is hopeful that the teenager's fearless exuberance will translate into another match-changing innings, and banked on the lower order of Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc, who scored 99 in India, to rise to the occasion.

Stating that he believes that Agar is not feeling the pressure, Clarke further said that he does not deserve to be at No.11 in any team in the world, adding that he had batted Agar at the position so that he could find his feet in Test match cricket and get into the game.

The Nottinghamshire duo, Broad and Swann, provided a dramatic breakthrough to get back the equation from Australia, who had made to 150 runs required with seven wickets in hand, and forced them to finish the day on 174-6, needing 137 to win the first Test.