Sport - Ashes Day One. Siddle's birthday hat-trick.

The face of England's nightmares

Pardon me for not being delighted. Siddle ripped the heart out of England's batting on day one resulting in a sub-standard 260 all out for the Ashes holders. Australia closed, comfortably, on 25-0.
I'd tipped Siddle to be top Aussie wicket-taker in the series at 7-1. He seems to have made a brilliant start dismissing Cook, Prior and Broad in consecutive balls. That's some way to celebrate your birthday. And that wasn't even the opening calamity for England. Last year we had Harmison's first ball disaster. This year we were made to wait a whole two deliveries more for Strauss to cut to gully and depart, crestfallen, for a duck. Despite fighting innings from Bell (76) and Cook (67 but droped on 26) and a typically fancy but ultimately disappointing 43 from Pietersen (out to an attacking shot, who'd have thought it?) England were demolished and demoralized by Siddle's hat-trick in a period of play when England were just starting to regain the upper hand. This Test, if not the series, is a long uphill struggle from here.

Prediction for tomorrow? Aussies to close on or around 301-4. Ponting to shine.