Peter perfect: Siddle celebrates his hat-trick at the Gabba after the wicket of Broad
Session One: England 86/2.
After winning the toss, England captain Andrew Strauss falls to the third ball of the day and the Australians scent blood when Jonathan Trott’s dismissal leaves the tourists 41 for two. However, in strides Kevin Pietersen and, looking back to something like his best, he steadies the ship alongside Alastair Cook to help England just shade the opening skirmish of the series.
Session Two: England 172/4.
KP starts off like a man possessed but is snared by Siddle for 43, who then gets Paul Collingwood in his next over as England teeter on 125 for four. Cook, though, hangs in there and brings up his 50 to stabilise the innings alongside the impressive Ian Bell.
Session three: England 260, Australia 25-0
Well, what can you say? Peter Siddle rocks England with the first Ashes hat-trick since Darren Gough at the SCG in 1999. It’s his birthday too as England collapse from 197 for four to 260 all out and Australia end the day on top after reaching the close without losing a wicket.
Test in a Tweet: Things start and end badly for England as Strauss falls early and Siddle rips the guts out of the tourists batting line-up to put Oz on top
Who's our Facebook friend: Peter Siddle. Okay, he’s an Aussie but you have to respect a guy who, in his first Test since coming back from a serious back injury in January, produces something as special as what we witnessed at the Gabba. And it was all on his 26th birthday too.
And who we'd unfriend: Andrew Strauss. After winning the toss, England’s captain inexplicably played a loose cut shot to Ben Hilfenhaus straight into the arms of Mike Hussey in the slip cordon. It was the third delivery of the day and if Steve Harmison set the tone for the last Ashes series in Australia with that infamous no-ball first-up then Strauss undermined his own team’s efforts four years later.
Download of the day: Three is the magic number – De La Soul
Advertising hoarding of the day: ‘Don’t be a galah. Set a limit and stick to it. Gamble responsibly.’ Maybe Strauss should have taken note before his suicidal shot.
Celeb spot: God. Not the bloke in the sky but sunburnt Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler who was in town playing for his Australian side Perth Glory the previous evening. Once a Red always a Red eh Robbie, especially when you don’t put sunscreen on.