Aus vs Eng: Peter Siddle’s Hat-trick

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA (GaeaTimes.com)- In what turned out to be a fateful 66th over on the first day of Ashes 2010, Peter Siddle produced a hat-trick that could well turn the course of the completely. Choosing to bat first and getting off to a rather shaky start, England batsmen Alistair Cook and Ian Bell looked like they could just hand on till Day 2 and ensure a healthy 1st innings total. With both the batsmen settled and 196 on board with 4 wickets down, the English innings looked en route to a formidable total till disaster struck in the form of Peter Siddle. Australia are presently in the driver’s seat in the test.

Earlier on in the innings Australian quickie Peter Siddle had already polished off the England middle order stalwarts, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood. Though without success in his first spell, he looked threatening in the second spell especially with his full pitched deliveries that seemed to be moving unpredictably.

The first victim in the match-turning 66th over was Alistair Cook. With a thick edge carrying comfortably to Shane Watson in the slips, it was just the beginning of the disaster for England. Matt Prior came in next and faced a straight fast, late moving delivery that smashed into his middle stump. With Peter Siddle highly pumped up, no batsman in the world would have wanted to come out next and the misfortune landed on the lanky English fast bowler who can bat, Stuart Broad. It looked like the hat-trick was inevitable at this point and Stuart Broad was merely a vehicle for the Australian fast bowler to achieve the great feat. Soon the Australian fielders erupted in joy as the umpire raised his fingers towards the sky.