Siddle hat-trick rocks England

Peter Siddle has taken a hat-trick to put Australia on top in the First Ashes Test in Brisbane after dismissing opener Alastair Cook (67), wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Stuart Broad from successive balls in the 66th over.

England were bowled out late on the first day for 260 after debutant Xavier Doherty (2-41) claimed his maiden Test wicket removing Ian Bell (76) when he was caught at deep cover by Shane Watson. The Tasmanian spinner ended England's innings five balls later when he bowled Jimmy Anderson (11).

Siddle, who turns 26 today, claimed career-best figures of 6-54 when trapped Graeme Swann (10) LBW shortly after his hat-trick.

Bell top-scored for England hitting eight boundaries in his 131-ball innings, going on the attack after Siddle so ruthlessly exposed England's lower order.

Cook anchored England's innings for nearly five hours before become the first victim of Siddle's hat-trick when he edged a ball to Watson at first slip before Prior was cleaned bowlede.

Siddle sealed the hat-trick with a full ball that swung towards Broad's leg stump, striking the fast bowler on the boot. Umpire Aleem Dar upheld the LBW shout but more drama ensued when England referred the decision to the third umpire.

After a short deliberation the decision was confirmed and Siddle became the first Australian to take a hat-trick in an Ashes test since Shane Warne at the MCG in 1994.

Earlier, Cook reached his 23rd Test half-century after Siddle sent Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood back to the pavilion in the space of 11 balls during the middle session, with England 4-172 at the tea break.

Siddle dismissed Kevin Pietersen, who pushed too hard off the front foot to a ball that rose and clipped the edge, flying to second slip where captain Ricky Ponting crouched to take the catch. It ended a 76-run partnership between Pietersen and vice-captain Cook.

In Siddle's next over he had Collingwood pushing forward and the result was almost identical, though this time the ball went a little further right to third slip Marcus North who took a smart catch low down.

At 4-125, England were in danger of collapse but Bell has continued his impressive tour form while Cook has been stoic.

Ponting used up his two referrals before the last break. In the 48th over Mitchell Johnson believed Bell had nicked a ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Short-leg Simon Katich was convinced he heard a noise and urged Ponting to refer Aleem Dar's not out decision to the third umpire, but Hot-Spot showed no sign of a nick.

Earlier in the day Siddle nearly had Jonathan Trott removed when he struck the right-hander's pad. Umpire Dar turned down a furious appeal from the home side, and Ponting then used his first referral after conferring with Haddin.

Replays showed the ball barely grazing leg stump, not enough to overturn the original decision.

Australia's Ashes campaign began in spectacular fashion when Ben Hilfenhaus removed England's skipper Andrew Strauss for a duck in just the third ball of the game.

Shane Watson then clean bowled Jonathan Trott in his first over - the 14th of the innings - which brought Pietersen to the crease amid a chorus of boos, but he and Alastair Cook steadied the ship to reach 2-86 at lunch.

Watson should have a second when Cook (29 not out) was dropped by debutant Xavier Doherty at point in the 24th over. Doherty jumped to reach Cook's cut shot, the ball bounced out of his hands and he could not reclaim it on the second attempt as he fell backwards. Ponting raced to his Tasmanian teammate to offer him a consolation pat.

The next over, Doherty nearly removed Pietersen (23 not out), who just managed an inside edge which was tickled down to fine leg.

Ponting's side could not have wished for a better start, having targeted Strauss publicly before the series, saying they would try to make him "crumble".

Crumble he did when attempting to cut Hilfenhaus's perfectly pitched ball which rose more than expected - as it so often does for batsmen at the Gabba - and Strauss's shot was directed straight to gully where Mike Hussey took a regulation catch and raised his arms in delight before the entire team mobbed Hilfenhaus.

Trott had looked comfortable, scoring 29 runs including five boundaries before he completely misjudged the line of Watson's delivery, which snuck through a surprisingly large gap between bat and pad and rattled the stumps, leaving England 2-42.

Doherty, Australia's 417th Test player, bowled a ripping first delivery that jagged back a long distance as Cook moved his bat away.

Strauss had won the toss and elected to bat in this first Ashes game, the frying pan of pressure in international cricket.

First drop Trott scored England's opening runs when he smartly edged the ball between third slip and gully for a boundary.

Hilfenhaus found swing on a green-tinged wicket.

AUSTRALIA: Ricky Ponting (c), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus. 12th man: Doug Bollinger.

ENGLAND: Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steve Finn. 12th man: Tim Bresnan.