Peter Siddle had the 26th birthday every Australian cricketer dreams of today as he took a test-best 6-54 on the opening day of this summer’s Ashes series against England in Brisbane – making a brilliant hat-trick in the process.
England rallied through the in-form Ian Bell (76), but were eventually removed for just 260 in the Gabba.
Siddle’s hat-trick was no collection of tail-end charlies, either: he took out opener Alistair Cook (67, caught slip) before demolishing numbers seven and eight as he removed Matt Prior (0) and Stuart Broad (0) in successive deliveries.
Prior was clean bowled before Broad was given LBW, plumb in front.
Australia ended the day with openers Katich (15 N.O.) and Watson (9 N.O.) still in place and in a commanding position with the score at 25-0. England have their work cut out to avoid yet another opening test defeat.
Table of Contents
England 1st Innings
|
|
Runs
|
Balls
|
4s
|
6s
|
|
Strauss | c Hussey | b Hilfenhaus |
0
|
3 | 0 | 0 |
Cook | c Watson | b Siddle |
67
|
168 | 6 | 0 |
Trott |
|
b Watson |
29
|
53 | 5 | 0 |
Pietersen | c Ponting | b Siddle |
43
|
70 | 6 | 0 |
Collingwood | c North | b Siddle |
4
|
8 | 1 | 0 |
Bell | c Watson | b Doherty |
76
|
131 | 8 | 0 |
Prior |
|
b Siddle |
0
|
1 | 0 | 0 |
Broad | lbw | b Siddle |
0
|
1 | 0 | 0 |
Swann | lbw | b Siddle |
10
|
9 | 1 | 0 |
Anderson |
|
b Doherty |
11
|
23 | 2 | 0 |
Finn | not out |
|
0
|
0 | 0 | 0 |
Extras |
|
6nb 6w 8lb | 20 |
|
||
Total |
|
all out | 260 | (76.5 ovs) |
Australia 1st Innings
|
Runs
|
Balls
|
4s
|
6s
|
||
Watson | not out |
|
9
|
23 | 1 | 0 |
Katich | not out |
|
15
|
19 | 2 | 0 |
Extras |
|
1lb | 1 |
|
||
Total |
|
for 0 | 25 | (7.0 ovs) |