Ashes 1st Test England vs Australia Day 1: Brilliant Broad silences Brisbane boos

Stuart Broad took five wickets to put England in charge on the first day of the first Ashes Test despite a battling Australian rearguard that kept the hosts alive at 273 for eight at the close of play on Thursday.

The England paceman's first four wickets helped trigger an Australia collapse from 71 for the loss of a single wicket prior to lunch to 132-6 during the middle session.

Broad, cast as the pantomime villain in Australia after his failure to walk at Trent Bridge earlier this year, then returned with the second new ball to bowl Mitchell Johnson for 64 and break his 114-run seventh wicket stand with Brad Haddin.

Haddin, playing his 50th Test, was unbeaten on 78 when stumps were drawn with long shadows across the ground, and will resume on day two with Ryan Harris, who had scored four.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat on a bright, sunny morning at the Gabba and the booing of Broad, branded a "smug Pommy cheat" on the front page of the local Courier-Mail newspaper, contributed to a festive atmosphere.

Opener Chris Rogers was the first victim of the bounce Broad managed to generate from the Gabba track but it was the dismissals of Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and David Warner around lunch that shifted the momentum firmly England's way.

Watson, whose preparations for the series were disrupted by a hamstring injury, looked like reaching lunch with his wicket intact until Broad intervened.

The all-rounder pushed at a ball he could have left and edged it to Graeme Swann at second slip, swatting his bat in disgust at the manner and timing of his dismissal for 22.

AUSTRALIA FIGHTBACK

Australia captain Clarke faced just seven balls after lunch before he was making his way back to the dressing room with one run to his name after he popped a catch Bell at short leg.

Opener Warner had looked dangerous in building an innings of 49 with some choice shots but he threw it all away when he swatted a Broad delivery straight to Kevin Pietersen in the covers.

James Anderson then pitched in to remove debutant George Bailey for three runs before Chris Tremlett, the third England quick, curtailed a promising innings from Steve Smith for 31.

Haddin, whose half century was his 13th in Tests, then combined with Johnson, recalled for his pace bowling than his batting prowess, to stem the flow of wickets.

Johnson hit six fours and two huge sixes for his eighth test 50 before Broad smashed his wickets asunder to complete his 11th test five-wicket haul.

England, who won the first series of this year's double header 3-0, are chasing a fourth successive Ashes triumph and a first victory at the Gabba since 1986.

All is not lost for Australia, however, and they could look to the corresponding Gabba test in the 2010-11 series for some comfort.

England were bowled out for 260 on the opening day but battled back for a draw, carrying the momentum from that recovery to clinch the series 3-1.

EVENING SESSION

Stuart Broad wreaked havoc with five wickets as England restricted Australia to 273 for 8 in the first Ashes Test match at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Thursday.

At close on Day 1 Brad Haddin was batting with a solid 78 and giving him company was Ryan Harris on 4 after captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat.

Haddin and Mitchell Johnson revived the hosts with a 114-run partnetship for the seventh wicket after Broad ran amok grabbing the wickets of Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson and skipper Michael Clarke.

And just when Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson were threatening to take the match away with a century stand, Broad was introduced and he got rid of Johnson to wrest the initiative back with England.

Johnson, back in the squad more for his bowling, had shown during his 134-ball 64 what he can do with his bat by scoring his 8th half century from 52 Test matches.

But the burden is on Haddin to carry Australia to a safer total. The wicket-keeper batsman played a cool and composed knock. His unbeaten 78 coming off 132 balls and consisting seven boundaries.

Anderson gets Siddle to give Cook his third catch of the day. Australia 265 for 8 after 87.5 overs.

Peter Siddle c Cook b Anderson 7 (18b, 0x4, 0x6)

The floodlights are on as shadows cover half the pitch.

Australia 264 for 7 after 87 overs with Haddin batting on 74.

Australia 263 for 7 after 86 overs.

Five overs left in the day.

Australia 257 for 7 after 84 overs.

Broad gets five wickets when he hits the timber to get Johnson out. Australia 246 for 7 after 83.1 overs.

Mitchell Johnson b Broad 64 (134b, 6x4, 2x6)

Johnson gets to his highest score of 64 against England.

Australia 242 for 6 after 82 overs.

England take the second new ball in the hope of breaking this partnership.

Australia 235 for 6 after 80 overs.

Haddin and Johnson bring up the 100-run partnership for Australia.

Johnson gets to his 50, his eighth from 52 Test matches. Australia 228 for 6 after 78 overs.

Australia are 221 for 6 after 77 overs.

Haddin punches Tremlett straight down the ground for a four.

Haddin gets to his 50 in his 50th Test match. Australia 212 for 6 after 75 overs.

Johnson takes on Swann again, hitting him over mid-on for six as he moves to 45. 

Johnson hits Swann for a four. Australia make steady progress at 203 for 6 after 73 overs.

Australia 195 for 6 after 70 overs.

Haddin and Johnson chip in to try and revive Australia with a 50-run partnership from 129 balls. Australia 184 for 6 after 66 overs.

Haddin and Johnson try to dig Australia out of trouble. The hosts are 179 for 6 after 63 overs.

Haddin and Johnson put on 40 runs so far for the seventh wicket in 91 balls. Australia 172 for 6 in 60 overs.

Haddin uses his wrists well to spank Anderson over cover into the crowd. Australia 165 for 6 after 56 overs.

Australia are 154 for 6 after 54 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Stuart Broad scalped four wickets to restrict Australia to 153 for 6 as England went into tea with their tails up on the opening day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Thursday.

Broad gave the visitors the early initiative by grabbing the wickets of Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson and skipper Michael Clarke, while James Anderson removed debutant George Bailey and Chris Tremlett got rid of the dangerous-looking Steven Smith.

Despite being hooked for a four off his very first ball by Warner, Broad came back with a bang to rock the Australian batting after Clarke won the toss and elected to take first strike.

Rogers departed early scoring just one but Warner and Watson steadied the ship with a 59-run stand. But Watson's departure just before lunch triggered a fall of wickets, Broad being the culprit.

Thereafter Anderson and Tremlett chipped in with a wicket each as England took control of the match.

Brad Haddin on 24 and Mitchell Johnson on 12 were at the crease.

Mitchell Johnson launches into Swann sending him for a big six. Australia 153 for 6 after 52 overs.

Haddin is hit on the helmet by a Broad bouncer. Australia 145 for 6 after 51 overs.

Australia 139 for 6 after 48 overs.

Tremlett finally gets a wicket after toiling for long, geting Smith to hand Cook his second catch. Australia 132 for 6 after 44.3 overs.

Steven Smith c Cook b Tremlett 31 (59b, 4x4, 0x6)

Haddin and Smith take on Swann. Australia 128 for 5 after 44 overs.

Australia 118 for 5 after 42 overs.

Haddin goes after Anderson as Australia reach 116 for 5 after 40 overs.

Australia in all sorts of trouble as Bailey is gone nicking Anderson to Cook at first slip. Australia 100 for 5 after 35.3 overs.

George Bailey c Cook b Anderson 3 (15b, 0x4, 0x6)

Australia 100 for 4 after 35 overs.

George Bailey lucky to survive as his edge off Anderson falls just short of Cook at first slip. Australia 88 for 4 after 32 overs.

Warner looked set for a fifty but Broad had other ideas as he forced the left-hander to hand Pietersen an easy catch. Australia 82 for 4 after 30.3 overs.

David Warner c Pietersen b Broad 49 (82b, 6x4, 0x6) 

Australia 82 for 3 after 30 overs.

Australia 76 for 3 after 28 overs.

Broad strikes immediately after lunch getting Australian captain Clarke for 1.

Michael Clarke c Bell b Broad 1 (10b, 0x4, 0x6)

MORNING SESSION

Stuart Broad struck two crucial blows for England as Australia were 71 for 2 at lunch on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Thursday.

Broad, who got rid of Chris Rogers for one, brought England back in the match by getting the important wicket of Shane Watson just three balls before lunch.

Watson was looking settled until Broad unnerved him with a short ball for Swann to take a catch in the slips.

Watson went for 22 but not after steadying Australia with a 59-run second-wicket partnership with David Warner, who is batting on 42 with six fours.

Earlier Broad got an early breakthrough for England after Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat when the lanky bowler forced Rogers to edge one to Ian Bell.

Shane Watson c Swann b Broad 22 (71b, 2x4, 0x6)

Watson lucky to get an edge through the slip cordon for four. Australia 69 for 1 after 23 overs.

Warner and Watson build the Australian innings with 50-run second-wicket partnership.

Australia 56 for 1 after 20 overs.

Warner gives Swann the charge, lofts him over mid-off for four. Australia 53 for 1 after 18 overs.

Graeme Swann is introduced after 17 overs.

Watson plays a lovely straight drive off Anderson. Australia 47 for 1 after 16 overs.

Australia 43 for 1 after 15 overs.

Warner the aggressor, spanks Tremlett for four. Australia 42 for 1 after 13 overs. 

Australia move slowly towards 37 for 1 after 11 overs.

Chris Tremlett replaces Anderson. Watson pulls him over point for four. Australia 35 for 1 after 9 overs.

Australia 30 for 1 after 8 overs.

Warner leaps high to flick a Broad bouncer for four. Australia 29 for 1 after 6 overs.

Broad comes back in big way, finds the edge of Rogers' bat for Bell to take easy catch. Australia 12 for 1 after 3.1 overs.

Chris Rogers c Bell b Broad 1 (8b, 0x4, 0x6)

Warner lucky as he edges Anderson but the ball falls short of Bell.

Warner takes on Anderson, thumps him through covers.

Broad begins with an erratic first over. Australia 7 for no loss after 2 overs.

A no-ball by Stuart Broad, his first ball, is whacked by Warner for a four.

James Anderson begins with a maiden for England. Australia 0 for no loss.

TEAMS: 

Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (capt), Steven Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Ryan Harris.

England: Alistair Cook (capt), Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett.

Pietersen receives a silver cap for becoming the 10th man to reach the milestone of 100 Tests for England.

Ryan Harris plays his first Test match at his adopted home ground.

PREVIEW

England are in Australia seeking a fourth Ashes triumph in a row for the first time since the 1890s but they know that if they are to achieve their goal they probably need to get a result at the Gabba.

The Brisbane Test is the traditional curtain raiser for Australia's home international season and the hosts have only lost eight Test matches played at the ground going in to the start of the 56th on Thursday.

Such is the difficulty of breaching the Gabba fortress, the hosts will start the match slight favourites with the bookmakers even though England dominated this year's home Ashes series and Australia have lost seven of their last nine Tests.

For touring skipper Alastair Cook, though, the prospect of trying to do what no England team has done since 1986 and win in Brisbane only adds to the motivation.

"This side has done that a number of times, when there've been specific challenges ahead of us, we've delivered," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"Whether we can do that this game will depend how well we play, but at the start of the series and at a ground where they have a lot of confidence, that would do us the world of good."

Those challenges include winning a Test series in India, ending a three-quarter century drought with victory over the Australians at Lord's and, of course, the first Ashes triumph Down Under in 24 years on their last visit in 2010.

Even then, though, they only managed a battling draw at the Gabba after Australian quick Peter Siddle took a hat-trick on the first morning and England were bowled out cheaply in their first innings.

Cook, whose second innings 235 not out helped save the match, said his team mates were nonetheless trying to draw on the memories of that 3-1 series triumph.

"There's no reason to feel intimidated, a lot of players we have in this squad were here in 2010-11 so we've all got experience of winning in Australia and we're trying to use that to the best of our ability," he added.

"We know how important this game was last time for setting up the series, Australia have obviously got a very good record here in Brisbane and it's our job to try and change that."

England have concerns over the fitness of wicketkeeper Matt Prior but otherwise look to have settled on their side, with opener Michael Carberry set to make his Ashes debut, Joe Root dropping down to number six and Chris Tremlett taking the third spot in the pace bowling unit.

CHASE RECORDS

Australia have put great store on the settled nature of their team, particularly the batting line-up, with most of their players showing good form in domestic cricket and a one-day series in India.

They have gambled on sometimes erratic fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and uncapped batsman George Bailey but with Shane Watson fit to bat will almost certainly retain spinner Nathan Lyon and leave all-rounder James Faulkner in charge of the drinks.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke remains convinced that his team can beat England if they play at their absolute best.

"For us it's about coming out and playing our best cricket in five Test matches and hopefully the result will take care of itself," he said.

"I think we're as well prepared as we can possibly be. I think the belief's there and hopefully we'll see that over the next five test matches."

Clarke's vice captain Brad Haddin will start his 50th Test on Thursday, while for England's flamboyant and often controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen the match will be his 100th.

The introduction of the "real time snickometre" will no doubt provide another plethora of umpiring controversies to go with those from the first series this year, ratcheting up the atmosphere even higher.

England's "Barmy Army" of vocal followers will certainly reprise their canon of songs deriding Johnson and may even have penned a ditty or two looking forward to a fourth successive Ashes triumph.

Their latter day Captain Cook, who knows what lies ahead over the next six weeks, is a little more cautious.

"It's a little bit dangerous to (think about) that," he said.

"It's a nice place to be in to be able to chase records and this side over the last few years have managed to do some very special things.

"(But) as always, the challenge of winning in Australia is a great challenge."

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.