Siddle double gives Oz the edge in first Ashes Test

Australian paceman Peter Siddle claimed a hattrick to bowl his team into a strong position against England on the opening day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Thursday.Siddle captured three wickets with successive deliveries to become only the 11th Australian bowler to take a hattrick in a Test match.The Victorian fast bowler dismissed Alastair Cook (67), Matt Prior (0) and Stuart Broad (0) with the third, fourth and fifth balls of his 12th over to rock England late on the first day.

Australia won the opening session taking two wickets to put England under early pressure in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Thursday.England lost the wickets of their skipper Andrew Strauss off the third ball of the match and Jonathan Trott in the 14th over after winning the toss.England were fortunate to go to lunch only two wickets down after debutant Test spinner Xavier Doherty put down Alastair Cook at point when the opener was on 26.At lunch, England were 86 for two with Cook on 29 and Kevin Pietersen not out 23.

Australia finally dismissed Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen scored his first Test century in 28 innings as England continued to pile on the runs in the second Ashes Test.Cook's occupation of the crease ended on 148 in the 97th over when he got an inside edge off paceman Ryan Harris and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a splendid one-handed catch.The Adelaide crowd rose to their feet to cheer Cook from the field after his 15th Test century and third against Australia.Cook has now scored 450 runs in the series for two dismissals for an extraordinary average of 225.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook shared in a ground record opening stand to strengthen England's chances of salvaging the opening Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba.Eating into a 221-run innings deficit, the opening pair had taken England to 135 without loss at lunch on the fourth day to trail Australia by 86 runs.Strauss hit some classic cover drives in his unbeaten 79 while Cook was on 51.The pair put on their ninth century partnership together in 82 Test innings and England's highest at the Gabba.

Peter Siddle celebrated a hat-trick and career-best Test figures on his birthday to bowl Australia into a commanding position against England after the opening day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba Thursday.The stout-hearted Victorian paceman sent England reeling with the first Ashes hat-trick in 11 years, as he captured six for 54 to help dismiss the tourists for 260.At the close, Australia had negotiated seven overs in fading light to be 25 without loss and trail England by 235 runs, with Shane Watson on nine and Simon Katich not out 15.

Matt Prior became England's third centurion to increase the tourists' lead to 356 runs over hapless Australia on the fourth day of the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.England equalled their highest score at the SCG set back in 1928-29 when they went to lunch at 636 for nine.Graeme Swann was unbeaten on 33 off 23 balls and Chris Tremlett was on seven.Wicketkeeper Prior joined Alastair Cook and Ian Bell as England century-makers with a thumping hundred off just 109 balls to rub further salt into Australia's wounds.

Phillip Hughes fell in the last over before lunch to take the shine off Australia's patient start on the opening day of the final Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.Hughes's concentration wavered when he sparred at a Chris Tremlett delivery outside offstump to edge to Paul Collingwood at third slip.Hughes had showed great application for his 31 off 93 balls before his error with just three balls left in the session.At lunch, Australia were 55 for one with a restrained Shane Watson unbeaten on 19 off 85 balls.

Alastair Cook became only the fourth Englishman to score a Test double-century in Australia as the first Ashes Test looked headed for a draw on the final day at the Gabba on Monday.Cook joined Wally Hammond (3), Reg Foster and Paul Collingwood as double centurions with his resilient knock to all but ensure the Ashes holders would avoid defeat in the first Test.At lunch, England were 439 for one with Cook unconquered on 201 and Trott not out 100 to lead by 218 runs with two sessions left.