Siddle hat-trick wins first Ashes day for Aussies

Tags: The Ashes 2010-11, Australia v England 1st Test at Brisbane - Nov 25-29, 2010, Australia, England, Ian Ronald Bell, Alastair Nathan Cook, Peter Matthew Siddle

Published on: Nov 25, 2010

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Australia through a magical spell from Peter Siddle bundled out England for 260 on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at the GABBA, Brisbane.

Australia through a magical spell from Peter Siddle bundled out England for 260 on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at the GABBA, Brisbane. Siddle clinched a hat-trick and his 6 for 54 in 16 overs provided the twists to the day which otherwise was looking good for England with two solid partnerships. Australia had negotiated 7 overs before Stumps to put up 25 for no loss to win the first day honours.

England winning the toss and batting first got off to a bad start when Andrew Strauss played a flashy cut in the 3rd ball of the match off Hilfenhaus which was caught at gully. Both Strauss and England were not even off the mark when that happened. One-down batsman Jonathan Trott (29) eased the nerves of the dressing room with some positive strokeplay before he got bowled after drinks playing all around an inswinger from Shane Watson just after the drinks break. England was crippled at 41 for 2 when its best batsman Kevin Pietersen joined Vice-Captain Alastair Cook.

There were some outstanding shots from Kevin Pietersen and England recovered along by lunch at 86 for 2 until Peter Siddle returned back to cause a double damage. Pietersen (43) was first beautifully caught by Ponting at second slip in the 38th over and in the 40th over, Paul Collingwood was snapped up by North at third slip to leave England at 125 for 4. Siddle was the wicket taker on both the occasions striking with his late outswingers one of which broke a promising 3rd wicket stand of 76 runs.

Cook continued to keep his end safe after the twin blow and got England back on track with Ian Bell taking England to 172 for 4 by Tea. Once again it was Peter Siddle breaking a good partnership when he forced Alastair Cook to edge his outswinger to first slip having scored 67 from 168 balls (with 6 fours). Cook added 72 runs with Ian Bell who then batted beautifully with the lower order to help England to 260 before they got polished off.

Peter Siddle made matters worse for England with a hat-trick in the 66th over which started with Cook edging behind, Matt Prior getting clean bowled by an inswinger and then Stuart Broad getting lbw to a toe crusher. Ian Bell after this had to go for the boundaries which he did in style before holing out at deep covers off debutant left arm spinner Xavier Doherty. Bell scored a fluent 76 from 131 balls with 8 fours. Siddle finished with dream figures of 16-3-54-6.

England came close in taking the wicket of Watson in the 7 overs before close but for the batsman inside edging a pacy inswinger from Broad onto the pad to escape from an lbw.

- B.V.Swagath

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