NOTTINGHAM (AFP) - Australia were 229 for nine in reply to England's first innings 215 - a lead of 14 runs - at lunch on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground on Thursday.

Phil Hughes was 63 not out and Ashton Agar 69 not out, their unbroken partnership of 112 for the 10th wicket rescuing Australia from the depths of 117 for nine.

Agar's innings was the highest score by a No.11 batsman on Test debut, surpassing the 45 not out made by Australia great Warwick Armstrong against England at Melbourne back in 1902.

This is the first of a five-Test series.