Australia spectacularly blew an opportunity to take the upper hand in the Ashes series, with the top order decimated by England on an action-packed day one of the first Test at Trent Bridge.
After fast bowling leader Peter Siddle had given Australia an early edge with a brilliant five-wicket haul, the tourists lost three wickets in 18 balls to be stuttering at 4-75 at stumps after 21 overs.
Australia trail on the first innings by 140 runs.
Inspired by Siddle, Australia bowled England out cheaply for 215 after just 59 overs.
But ‘cheaply’ was redefined a short time later, when Shane Watson (13), Ed Cowan (0) and Michael Clarke (0) were back in the pavilion by the seventh over, and Chris Rogers (16) by the 15th.
Steve Smith dug in superbly to be 38 not out, with Phil Hughes unbeaten on 7.
England openers Steven Finn (2-37) and James Anderson (2-25) did all the damage, with Australia unable to see any advantage from the fact Stuart Broad was unable to bowl due to a shoulder injury suffered while batting.
Finn was on an Ashes hat-trick in the fourth over when he had Watson lunging forward and edging to slip and then next ball Cowan reaching foolishly for a wide one to also nick out to the cordon.
His hat-trick ball missed Clarke’s outside edge by a whisker, but the skipper was sent packing three overs later when Anderson delivered a peach that took the off-stump and will be hard pressed to be beaten as ball of the series.
The spectacular shocks started before a ball was even bowled with teenage spinner Ashton Agar transformed from development bowler into Nathan Lyon’s replacement in one of the more incredible Ashes debuts.
David Warner was also dropped in favour of Smith.
England captain Alastair Cook had no hesitation in batting first on a dry wicket at Trent Bridge, but may have regretted that decision when he was first man out in the ninth over, at the hands of James Pattinson.
Australia were 3-22 and there were flashbacks to their all out for 47 in Cape Town two years ago.
Yet again it was proven that overhead conditions are more relevant in England than what’s on the deck – with no player from either side able to crack a half century and 14 wickets falling for the day.
Siddle was criticised for his poor lead-up form, but emphatically dismissed doubt over his selection by tearing through England’s top order with figures of 5-50.
From his first wicket to his fifth, Siddle went for just 22 runs from 51 balls.
After going for runs early, the Victorian pace warrior announced his return to the Ashes centre stage with a cracking outswinger which beat the edge of Joe Root’s (30) bat and knocked over his off-stump at base-height.
He then claimed crucial men Kevin Pietersen (14), Jonathan Trott (48), Ian Bell (25) and Matt Prior (1).
James Pattinson took 3-69 and Mitchell Starc 2-54 – going very close to his own hat-trick.
Agar went wicketless for 24 runs from his seven overs, while Watson (0-7) appeared to pull up in some discomfort after his fourth over.
SCORE: England 215, Australia 4-75
MAN OF THE MOMENT:
PETER SIDDLE: Brilliant performance from the undisputed leader of Australia’s fast bowling attack, taking 5-50. Had his doubters leading into the Test after some poor form in the lead-in matches, but the world’s No.6 quick stood up when it mattered. From his first wicket to his fifth, Siddle went for just 22 runs from 51 balls.
KEY MOMENT:
Australia’s new opening pair got off to a rocky start, with Shane Watson pushing forward clumsily to edge Steven Finn to third slip in the fourth over, sparking a collapse of 3-3 in 18 balls.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Ashton Agar became the 12th youngest debutant in Australian Test history, and one of the biggest Ashes selection shocks of all time. The 19-year-old spinner was only in the Australian squad as a development player.
SUMMARY:
Day one pretty well summed up the good and bad about Australian cricket. The fast bowlers fired, and the batsmen folded. Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc presented the batting line-up with a golden opportunity to lay the platform for a crucial first Test victory … but yet again they stumbled.
QUOTE: “Four for (53)? I would have liked to have been a little bit more than that.” – DARREN LEHMANN’S blunt response when asked his thoughts on his new-look top four.
