Siddle’s hat-trick destroys England
Peter Siddle grabbed 6 wickets, including a hat-trick, in the first innings of the opening match in the much awaited ashes series in Australia. Australia restricted England to 260 after England captain Andrew Straus won the toss and decided to bat.
Australia had the perfect start to the day when Strauss was sent packing on the third ball of the day. Strauss cut a bouncing ball from Hilfenhaus straight into the hands of Michael Hussey positioned at gully. Cook and Trot tried to steady England’s innings
but Trot was taken by Shane Watson on 29 and England went 2 down on 41. Kevin Pietersen faced a hostile welcome from the Brisbane crowd as he walked in. England could have been 3 down but Alistar Cook’s catch was dropped by Xavier Doherty, playing his first
match for Australia. After the early scare, Cook and Pietersen put on a steady display and took England to lunch on 86 for 2.
Pietersen looked in an attacking mode after the break and punished the Australian bowlers. He had a partnership of 76 runs with Cook and looked set to post a big score. Pietersen however failed to capitalize on a good start when he edged a full delivery
from Siddle into the waiting hands of Ricky Ponting in the second slip. Collingwood followed in Siddle’s next over in similar fashion after adding just 4 to England’s total. In form batsmen Ian Bell, who scored a century in England’s warm up match against
Australia A, gave stability to the innings along with Cook. Cook reached his 50 before the lunch break and England ended the second session at 172-4.
After tea, Australian bowlers Watson and Hilfenhaus bowled on a waivered line outside the off stump which caused no problems to the well set English batsmen. English team was looking to set a competitive total in their first innings but it all changed when
Siddle was called on to bowl. Siddle bowled a much fuller length and made the batsmen play. His tactics paid immediate dividends. Opener Cook edged the ball straight into the hands of Watson in the first slip giving Siddle his 3rd wicket of the
day; Cook made 67. In came England’s wicket keeper batsmen Matt Prior but his stay was short lived. He was bowled first ball by a quick delivery by Siddle. Stuart broad came in to face the hat-trick bowl with over 35,000 people in the stadium backing Australia.
Siddle delivered an in swinging bowl which struck the English batsmen on the full who was adjudged leg before wicket by umpire Aleem Dar. Broad decided to refer the decision but could not prevent the inevitable as the replay showed the ball was heading for
the leg stump. England was suddenly slumped to 197 for 7.
Siddle struck again taking the wicket of English off spinner Graeme Swan with a ball coming in and striking the pads. The Australian bowler could have had his 7th wicket but wicket keeper Haddin floored a difficult catch of James Anderson. Ian
bell tried to get England to a respectable total and grabbed some valuable runs before being picked up by debutant Doherty on 76. In an attempt to put some quick runs on the board, Bell skied a shot into the off side that was caught comfortably by Watson.
The left handed off spinner cleaned up England’s innings in the same over taking the wicket of James Anderson. England’s innings ended at 260, Siddle finished with 6 wickets for 54 runs.
Australia came out to bat for 7 overs and ended the day without any stutters at 25 without the loss of any wicket. Australia will resume their innings on day 2 with Simon Katich on 15 and Watson on 9.
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