NOTTINGHAM: England were on the brink of winning the first Test against Australia after more umpiring controversy dogged the Ashes series opener at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Australia were 174 for six at stumps on the fourth day, still needing a further 137 runs to reach their victory target of 311 after they lost three wickets for three runs late in the day.

No side has made more to win in the fourth innings of a Trent Bridge Test than England's 284 for six against New Zealand in 2004.

But the fact teenage debutant Ashton Agar, who in Australia's first innings made 98, the highest score by a Test No 11, was still there was a warning to Ashes-holders England they had work left to do if they were to go 1-0 up in this five-match series.

Brad Haddin was 11 not out and Agar, promoted to No 8, one not out.

England captured the prize scalp of Australia captain Michael Clarke when Stuart Broad had the tourists' best batsman caught behind by wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 23 off an excellent full-length delivery that saw Australia decline from 161 for three to 164 for six in the space of 18 balls.

Left-hander Phil Hughes, playing back to another sharply spun Swann delivery, just pitched in line before striking the batsman plumb in front of his stumps on the back leg for a duck.

Australia had frustrated England before opener Shane Watson was lbw to a Broad inswinger for 46.

Then to what became the last ball before tea, Ed Cowan edged part-time spinner Joe Root to Jonathan Trott at slip.

Before tea Chris Rogers, playing his second Test five years after his debut, completed a maiden Test fifty off 104 balls with eight fours.

But soon after tea, Rogers tamely chipped James Anderson to Ian Bell at midwicket.

Earlier, Bell's 109 had been the cornerstone of England's second innings 375.

Bell, 95 not out overnight, shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 138 with Broad (65).

   LONDON: Graham Onions was recalled by England on Saturday as they boosted their bowling options by naming five seamers in a 13-man squad for the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia at Trent Bridge next week.

Durham paceman Onions, who won the last of his nine Test caps against the West Indies at Edgbaston last year, was joined in the squad by Yorkshire seam-bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who missed the recent home series win over New Zealand while he recovered from elbow surgery.

Also in the squad were pace trio James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.

Broad missed England's warm-up win over Essex with a shoulder injury, a match where key off-spinner Graeme Swann was struck a painful blow on the right arm, having had surgery on his right elbow earlier this year. But both bowlers were passed fit.

England national selector Geoff Miller stressed the 30-year-old Onions, whose 32 Test wickets have come at a shade under 30 runs apiece, was more than just injury cover.

As expected, Nick Compton was left out of the squad after Miller had said Joe Root would be promoted to open the innings, something the 22-year-old does for Yorkshire but has yet to do at Test level, alongside captain Alastair Cook.

Somerset opener Compton, grandson of England great Denis, scored back-to-back hundreds in New Zealand earlier this year but was omitted after a poor return series against the Kiwis that saw him manage just 39 runs in four innings.

England will be bidding to win their third straight series against

Australia -- something they last managed in the 1950s -- when the first Test of a five-match campaign starts in Nottingham on Wednesday.

With the British and Irish Lions rugby union team beating Australia in Sydney earlier Saturday to complete a 2-1 series win, and Andy Murray bidding to becoming the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win the Wimbledon men's singles title in Sunday's final against Novak Djokovic, Miller said he hoped the cricket side could tap into an upbeat national mood.