The Ageas Bowl International Academy's Ashton Agar produced one of the most remarkable innings in Ashes history, falling two runs short of a century from number 11 to hand his side an unlikely advantage in the first Investec Test.

Agar began the season based in Ocean Village, Southampton, while training at the Ageas Bowl and playing club cricket for Henley CC.

But today he tore up the record books to score a thrilling 98 in 101 balls, the highest ever score by a last man, and shared a Test record 10th-wicket stand of 163 with former Hampshire batsman Phil Hughes (81no).

When the 19-year-old came to the crease the tourists were reeling at 117 for nine, James Anderson and Graeme Swann having combined to take five wickets for just nine runs.

What had looked certain to be a hefty home lead had improbably become a 65-run deficit at the change of innings.

At tea England were fighting for their lives on 11 for two after Mitchell Starc removed Joe Root and Jonathan Trott with successive deliveries.

Trott was given lbw but was visibly aggrieved and made it clear he felt he had edged the ball.

He was initially given not out but a DRS review showed no clear 'hotspot' mark despite the ball's apparent deviation.

Earlier, Agar had a life on six when third umpire Marais Erasmus decided there was insufficient evidence to give him out stumped to Graeme Swann, but from there on batted with a joyous freedom.

With just 10 first-class appearances to his name he was a shock selection ahead of fellow spinner Nathan Lyon, but it proved an inspired call as he struck 12 boundaries and two wonderful sixes off Swann.

Australia, resuming on 75 for four, had the better of the first half-hour, adding 33 problem-free runs to ease the score into three figures.

But when things changed they changed emphatically.

Steven Smith had just celebrated an impressive half-century - the first of this year's Ashes contest - when Anderson tempted him with a fuller ball that moved a tad off the pitch to take the edge.

Matt Prior gathered the catch and England were off and running.

Four balls later Swann added the scalp of Brad Haddin, getting one to turn sharply in to the right-hander and exposing a poor technique to bowl him on the back foot.

Peter Siddle's only run came from an edge that Prior could not quite gather but Anderson sent him back moments later, another swinging delivery shaping away and taking the edge. Prior's catch this time was a tough one, but he went low and one-handed to scoop it up safely.

Starc was next on the chopping board, dropped by Swann off Anderson's third ball at him but still departing for a duck when Anderson and Prior combined yet again for the Lancastrian's fifth wicket.

James Pattinson survived eight balls, and one big lbw appeal, before being given leg before to a Swann arm ball. His decision to review a delivery destined for middle stump was entirely flippant.

At 117 for nine, the end of the innings appeared imminent and England thought they had Agar stumped for six only to be left disappointed by umpire Erasmus.

From there on, the teenager let loose as he comfortably passed the previous high score by a last man on debut, which was recorded by another Australian, Warwick Armstrong making an unbeaten 45 in 1902.

He was soon playing a run-a-ball, putting away a succession of short, wide balls from Steven Finn and heaving Swann for six.

The 50 stand occupied just 60 balls and was rapidly eroding what had seemed a handsome lead.

Agar went past Armstrong's with a three off Anderson and then reached his half-century with a thick edge to third man.

It had taken him just exactly 50 balls and he did not let up, lifting Swann for a second six back down the ground.

With an extra half-hour taken before lunch, Broad finally got his first over of the match and saw Hughes edge one through a vacant second slip.

Agar seemed certain to make a historic hundred when he breezed past the previous high score by a number 11 - Tino Best's 95 against England last summer. But those dreams were dashed when he pulled a short ball from Broad to Swann at deep midwicket.

The ovation he received was entirely fitting of a game-changing knock.

England had an awkward eight-over period to survive before tea but Starc made a crucial double strike.

Root was strangled down the leg side for five and then Trott's contentious dismissal followed to leave England 54 behind with eight batsmen left.