Siddle Takes Hat Trick in First Ashes

Australian Peter Siddle grabbed a dramatic hat-trick on his 26th birthday to reduce England to 197 for seven midway through the final session on the first day of the first Ashes test on Thursday.

The Victorian had already taken the wickets of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood in eleven balls in his second spell after lunch but better was to come in the third session.

His first victim was opener Alastair Cook, who had held the England innings together with a dogged half century before the bustling right-arm quick had him caught by Shane Watson at second slip for 67.

Siddle then produced a venomous full delivery that took out wicketkeeper Matt Prior's middle stump and sent him back to the dressing room with a golden duck, bringing the Gabba crowd to their feet as Stuart Broad walked out to the crease.

Siddle produced another brilliant swinging full delivery that struck the batsman on the toe, umpire Aleem Dar raising his finger for lbw with his decision upheld after Broad appealed to the television umpire.

Graeme Swann managed to fend off the last delivery of the over and Siddle was given a standing ovation as he returned to his fielding position on the boundary as only the 11th Australian to take a hat-trick in a test match.

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