1st Ashes Test ENG v AUS: England fire back after Siddle takes five for Australia

England roared back in the final session following a feeble batting display as wickets tumbled on a dramatic opening day of the first Ashes Test against Australia at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

Australia, huge underdogs in the series, enjoyed the perfect start when fiery fast bowler Peter Siddle took five wickets and England collapsed to 215 all out shortly after tea.

However, Steven Finn removed Shane Watson and Ed Cowan in successive balls and James Anderson dismissed Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers before Australia lurched to the close on 75 for four.

Steve Smith, on 38, and Phil Hughes, seven, were the not out batsmen.

Watson started Australia's reply aggressively with three boundaries but he fell for 13 attempting a fourth, smartly pouched by Root at third slip off Finn.

The tall fast bowler's next delivery was also wide and full, tempting Cowan into an injudicious drive that sent the ball flying low to Swann at second slip.

Clarke strode out at 19 for two and he lasted only six balls before Anderson produced a peach of a delivery which held its line and clipped the top of off stump.

The England crowd suddenly came alive and Trent Bridge was abuzz as Smith and Chris Rogers set about repairing the damage.

Smith took the attack to the bowlers and the experienced Rogers, playing his first test for five years, supported him sensibly until he was trapped lbw by Anderson for 16.

England pushed hard for another breakthrough but with Broad off the field receiving treatment on a shoulder injury they could not find it and Smith and Hughes will resume on Thursday with Australia 140 runs adrift.

The fiery Siddle dismissed Joe Root before lunch and he added the wickets of Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Matt Prior in the afternoon session to put Australia in control of the match.

Jonny Bairstow was unbeaten on 32 at the interval with Stuart Broad on one.

England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions.

James Pattinson's first ball of the series was a massive wide and the fast bowler initially struggled to find his line as the ball swung extravagantly in the air.

Cook clipped Mitchell Starc crisply through mid-wicket for the first four of the game and although the England openers had to survive the odd unplayable delivery, they looked comfortable at the crease.

On 13, however, Cook drove loosely at a wide ball from Pattinson and nicked a routine catch through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

The Australians wildly celebrated the wicket of the England captain, who scored 766 runs in the last Ashes series, but the situation was tailor-made for the phlegmatic Trott.

He greeted Siddle to the attack with successive fours and also dispatched spinner Ashton Agar's first ball in Test cricket to the extra cover boundary.

Root, opening for the first time in Tests, struck six neat fours but he was completely deceived by the first ball of Siddle's second spell, a rapid full-length yorker which crashed into his stumps to end a second-wicket partnership of 51.

England took lunch on 98 for two but Pietersen, returning to the side after injury, nibbled at a Siddle outswinger in the first over of the afternoon session and was well caught by Australia captain Michael Clarke at second slip for 14.

Trott struck eight sweetly-timed fours and was two runs short of his fifty when he carelessly dragged a wide Siddle delivery on to his stumps to leave England in trouble at 124 for four.

Bairstow and Bell shared a fluent 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Bell, on 25, limply hung his bat at a Siddle outswinger and edged a catch to Shane Watson at first slip.

Prior then swatted a wide ball from Siddle straight to Phil Hughes at point to give the bowler his eighth five-wicket haul in Tests and send the few pockets of Australian fans in the crowd into raptures.

Australia sprang a surprise by picking the 19-year-old Agar, who has played only 10 first-class matches, ahead of off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

England opted for Steven Finn as their third fast bowler with Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions missing out.

EVENING SESSION

Australia reached 75 for four in reply to England's first innings total of 215 as honours were shared on the opening day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Wednesday.

Steven Smith remained unbeaten on a fluent 38 off 51 balls hitting five boundaries and a six.

England's new ball pair of Anderson and Finn rocked the tourists despite missing Broad through injury.

Finn dismissed Watson (13) and Cowan in successive balls while Anderson bowled Clarke with a beauty and trapped Rogers (16) leg before.

Anderson has figures of two for 25 so far and Finn two for 37.

Siddle was the star of the day claiming five for 50 ripping through England's top order to dismiss the hosts for 215.

Smith continues to take the attack to the opposition slamming another boundary off Swann through extra cover. Aus 73-4 in 20 overs.

Smith continues unfazed attacking Swann by lofting him for a straight six. Aus 61-4 in 16 overs.

Spin introduced with less than half an hour to go before the close as Swann comes into the attack.

England have hit back despite missing Broad who is taking treatment for a shoulder injury.

England are rocking as Anderson claims his second wicket trapping Rogers leg before with Australia being unsuccessful with a decision review. Aus 53-4.

C Rogers lbw b Anderson 16 (37b 2x4 0x6)

Smith pulls Finn to midwicket for two consecutive boundaries. Aus 51-3 in 14 overs.

Rogers had no clue edging Anderson to the third man fence. Aus 35-3 in 11 overs.

Smith hits his first boundary pulling Finn to backward square leg. Aus 31-3 in 10 overs.

Anderson has struck a major knocking back the stumps of Australian skipper Clarke with a beauty. Aus 22-3.

M Clarke b Anderson 0 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Clarke survives the hat-trick ball just ball as Finn beats the outside edge of his bat. Aus 19-2 in 4 overs.

Finn is on a hat-trick as Cowan departs for a first-ball duck edging to Swann at second slip. Aus 19-2.

E Cowan c Swann b Finn 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Finn strikes getting the big wicket of Watson who attempts to drive him but only succeeds in edging to Root at third slip. Aus 19-1.

S Watson c Root b Finn 13 (14b 3x4 0x6)

Watson drives Finn through midon for another boundary.

Rogers gets his first boundary with a superbly timed cover drive off Anderson. Aus 15-0 in 3 overs.

Watson slams consecutive boundaries off the first two deliveries from Finn.

ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS

Pattinson finished with three for 69 and Starc claimed two for 54.

But the hero of the day was Siddle who ripped through the England top order to return superb figures of 14-4-50-5.

England are all out for 215 in the 59th over with Swann being the last man out.

G Swann c Hughes b Pattinson 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Anderson survives the hat-trick ball.

Double strike by Starc as Finn nicks the first ball behind to Haddin. Eng 213-9.

S Finn c Haddin b Starc 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Starc strike beating Bairstow through the gate and castling him. Eng 213-8.

J Bairstow b Starc 37 (51b 7x4 0x6)

Pattinson hits back as Broad miscues a bouncer to hold a return catch. Eng 213-7.

S Broad c and b Pattinson 24 (30b 5x4 0x6)

Broad slams two consecutive boundaries off Pattinson on the off.

Bairstow smashes a short pitched delivery from Starc over point for a boundary.

Broad slams Pattinson throught the covers to bring up the 200 of the innings in the 55th over. Eng 201-6.

Broad hits the first boundary after the post-tea session gliding Starc to third man.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Bairstow is unbeaten on 32 having faced 41 balls and hit six boundaries.

The afternoon session belonged to Australia and Peter Siddle who was responsible for all four wickets which fell.

Siddle broke the backbone of England's batting by dismissing Pietersen (14) and denying Trott (48) a half century by bowling him with a swinging yorker.

Bairstow and Bell (25) figured in a breezy 54-run stand for the fifth wicket but Siddle returned to break this resistance.

England slumped to 180-6 as Prior became Siddle's fifth victim.

Siddle who has figures of five for 50 bowls a maiden as England go in for tea on day one at 185-6 in 52 overs.

Siddle takes his fifth wicket as Prior hits straight to Hughes at point. Eng 180-6.

M Prior c Hughes b Siddle 1 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Siddle has the last laugh as Bell becomes his fourth victim edging to watson in the slips. Eng 178-5.

I Bell c Watson b Siddle 25 (63b 6x4 0x6)

Siddle returns to the attack but is punched to the midwicket fence by Bell.

The 50 partnership for the third wicket between Bell and Bairstow comes in 68 balls. Eng 174-4 in 47 overs.

Bairstow cracks Starc for another boundary through the covers. Eng 173-4 in 46 overs.

Bairstow is almost airborne as he punches Starc for a boundary through the covers.

Agar is turning out to be expensive being hit for boundaries by Bairstow and Bell. Eng 165-4 in 45 overs.

England seem to be dealing in boundaries now as Bairstow slams Agar through point.

Bell pulls a bouncer from Starc to square leg for a boundary. Eng 156-4 in 44 overs.

Bairstow rocks on the back foot and cuts Agar to the point boundary.

Bairstow drives Pattinson through the covers for another boundary. Eng 147-4 in 41 overs.

Bell strokes Starc through the covers for another superb boundary. Eng 138-4 in 40 overs.

Bairstow opens his account with a boundary driving Pattinson through the covers as England reach 134-4 in 39 overs at the halfway stage on day one.

Bell clips Siddle through midwicket for another superb boundary. Eng 130-4 in 38 overs.

Siddle is on a roll and England are on the back foot being four down for 124.

He has figures of three for 41 from 10 overs.

Siddle claims his third wicket bowling Trott off an inside edge. Eng 124-4.

J Trott b Siddle 48 (80b 9x4 0x6)

Trott flicks Pattinson returning for another spell for a boundary through midwicket. Eng 124-3 in 35 overs.

Bell pulls Siddle to square leg for a boundary. Eng 115-3 in 32 overs.

Watson bowls two consecutive maiden overs to Trott. Eng 102-3 in 29 overs.

Siddle strikes a major blow inducing an edge to second slip from Pietersen in the second over after lunch. Eng 102-3.

K Pietersen c Clarke b Siddle 14 (23b 3x4 0x6)

Pietersen cracks a boundary off Siddle to bring up the 100 of the England innings in the second over after lunch.

Watson to open proceedings after lunch and bowls a maiden to Trott.

MORNING SESSION

England are 98 for two at lunch on day one of the first Test against Australia with Jonathan Trott looking solid on an unbeaten 37 off 47 having hit eight boundaries.

Pietersen is with him on 10 with two hits to the fence.

Australia have removed both openers Cook (13) and Root (30).

Pattinson drew first blood as the England skipper edged behind whiel Root was bowled by a peach of a yorker from Siddle after a 51-run stand for the second wicket with Trott.

Pietersen whips Starc through midwicket for a boundary in the last over before lunch.

Trott slams Pattinson for his eighth boundary of the morning. Eng 94-2 in 25 overs.

Trott punches Starc through the covers for a boundary. Eng 87-2.

Pietersen glances Pattinson to fine leg for his first boundary.

Siddle breaks Root's dogged innings castling him with a yorker. Eng 78-2.

J Root b Siddle 30 (64b 6x4 0x6)

Trott slams Pattinson through midwicket for another boundary to bring up the 50 partnership for the second wicket in 69 balls.

Root also picks up a boundary off Agar. Eng 74-1 in 20 overs.

Roots clips Siddle through midwicket beating a desperate lunge from Pattinson. Eng 60-1 in 17 overs.

Trott despatches left arm spinner Agar's first delivery in Test cricket for a boundary through the covers. Eng 54-1 in 16 overs.

Spin introduced for the first time with debutant Agar into the attack.

Trott edges Siddle through the slip cordon for a boundary.

Roots cuts Starc to the third man fence to get going after the drinks break. Eng 43-1 in 14 overs.

It's been a mixed opening hour of the first Test with England making cautious progress before losing skipper Cook while Trott gets into his stride by punishing a couple of loose deliveries from Siddle.

Siddle has been struck for consecutive boundaries by Trott on the leg side. Eng 39-1 in 13 overs.

Trott flicks Siddle's second delivery to the fine leg fence.

The first bowling change by Australia after 12 overs with Siddle coming into the attack.

Starc bowls another maiden to Root who is beaten after he comes over the wicket. Eng 31-1 in 12 overs.

Trott opens his account with a lovely cover drive off Pattinson. Eng 31-1 in 11 overs.

Starc sends down a second maiden to Root who is circumspect after the fall of Cook. Eng 27-1 in 10 overs.

Pattinson draws first blood as Cook drives loosely only to nick it behind to Haddin in the ninth over. Eng 27-1.

A Cook c Haddin b Pattinson 13 (26b 2x4 0x6)

Cook opens the face of the bat and steers Pattinson for another boundary to third man.

Roots jabs a full pitched delivery from Starc to the third man fence. Eng 23-0 in 8 overs.

Here's an interestesting stat tweeted by the ICC: England has won its last four Tests at Trent Bridge but only once since the Second World War has England won the toss in the first Ashes Test and won the match (in 1972 at Old Trafford).

The lights have come on after just six overs because of the cloud cover.

Root finishes the Pattinson over by edging him past the slip cordon for another boundary to third man. Eng 14-0 in 5 overs.

Root pulls a bouncer from Pattinson to fine leg for his first boundary.

Left arm quick Starc also bowls a maiden to Cook with the ball seaming around quite harmlessly. Eng 6-0 in 4 overs.

Pattinson's second over is a maiden with Root surviving an appeal for a leg before. Eng 6-0 in 3 overs.

Cook hits the first boundary of the series flicking Starc to square leg. Eng 6-0 in 2 overs.

Root who was at the centre of controversy is opening for the first time in his career for England.

Pattinson has the new ball as Cook take strike to face the first ball of the Ashes series with the first delivery being a wide bouncer.

Nick Compton, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha and Vinay Kumar are the only Test players that Ashton Agar has dismissed in first-class cricket, according to BBC Sport.

Agar has Sri Lankan grandparents, Nick Hoult, deputy cricket correspondent of the Daily Telegraph has tweeted.

England have won the toss and opted to bat in the first Test against Australia on Wednesday.

Steven Finn has been chosen ahead of Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions.

Australia have sprung a surprise by giving a debut to left arm spinner 19-year-old Ashton Agar.

TEAMS

England - A Cook, J Root, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, J Bairstow, M Prior, S Broad, G Swann, S Finn, J Anderson

Australia - S Watson, C Rogers, E Cowan, M Clarke, P Hughes, S Smith, B Haddin, P Siddle, J Pattinson, M Starc, A Agar

PREVIEW

The final chapter of the Ashes build-up ended in predictable fashion on Tuesday when opposing captains Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke played the straightest of bats ahead of the first Test at Trent Bridge.

Australia skipper Clarke was more than happy to accept his team were underdogs going into the start of the five-match series on Wednesday while England leader Cook was confident his side would handle the pressure of being favourites.

"We have been favourites in other series as well and I think it sits well," Cook told a packed news conference in the pavilion. "But cricket is not played on paper and it is all about delivering on the pitch.

"Australia are a very, very good side. They have some world-class players and I think there is going to be a very good standard of cricket in this series.

"We've always known it's going to be one hell of a battle," said Cook.

Australia's preparations have been far from ideal, with Darren Lehmann brought in as coach to replace the sacked Mickey Arthur just over two weeks ago.

"We come here as underdogs but that won't affect our performances," Clarke said. "Darren and Mickey are two completely different people.

"Personally I have enjoyed talking cricket with 'Boof' (Lehmann) who I was lucky enough to play with. We are all embracing Darren's style now."

Cook said the England players could not wait to begin their defence of the Ashes.

"Everyone is desperately excited to be here today after such a long build-up," he said. "There are a lot of nerves and excitement but it's important not to blow it out of all proportion."

ROOT SURPRISE

Clarke expressed surprise England had opted to promote youngster Joe Root to open the batting with Cook in preference to the more experienced Nick Compton.

"Joe has handled himself in every situation fantastically well," Cook said. "He has managed to change his style to every situation and is a fantastic young player."

Both captains said they knew their starting XIs but did not give any clues.

The pitch is expected to be dry and the weather conditions warm which might give the batsmen an advantage at a ground where swing bowlers usually perform well.

But Cook, leading England for the first time in an Ashes series, played down the significance of winning the toss.

"The toss is important but how you play is more important," he said. "Our group of bowlers have the skills and experience to hold us in good stead in any conditions."

Cook said the England players had been inspired by a weekend spent watching the British and Irish Lions win their rugby test series in Australia and Andy Murray's momentous victory at Wimbledon.

"That was an incredible moment for British sport," Cook said. "A lot of our players are big tennis and rugby fans and it was fantastic watching as genuine sports fans."

Clarke said with a wry smile that he was aware of the recent British sporting success but was confident his inexperienced team were capable of winning back the Ashes.

"Every one of the boys has prepared to the best of their ability," he said. "I've told them to play with freedom, to back their ability and play their natural game.

"Our preparation is done. Now it's about what we do on the field."
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.