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Thursday 21 November 2013

Ashes 2013-14: Stuart Broad silences critics as England dominate first Test at Gabba


Stuart Broad responded to the boos from the Australia crowd with five wickets as England seized control on the opening day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.


Australia coach Darren Lehmann had accused Broad of cheating during the summer's Ashes - and claimed he hoped the public would get stuck into him Down Under.

And although the Australian faithful in Brisbane rose to the challenge, so did Broad as he finished with 5-65 to leave the hosts struggling at 273-8.
The local newspaper in Brisbane, the Courier Mail, had dubbed the England all-rounder 'Stuart Fraud' and then banned the use of his name.

However, his demolition job had them eating their words after Aussie skipper Michael Clarke had won the toss and opted to bat first on what looked a flat surface.
James Anderson picked up two wickets, while Chris Tremlett claimed 1-51 as England's bid to secure a fourth series win in a row over their oldest enemy was given the perfect start.
Things could have been a lot worse for the hosts after they were left reeling at 132-6 - only for Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson to take the fight to England.
Haddin, a centurion in the last Ashes Test at the venue when he came to the crease with his team toiling at 143-5, shared a 114-run stand with Johnson to frustrate the tourists during the evening session.
However the new ball proved vital to energising England, with Johnson finally removed for 64 off 134 deliveries.
Haddin remained unbeaten on 78, while David Warner also made 49 but Australia will not have been happy with their day's work.
Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussain discuss a good opening day for England after day one of the first Ashes Test.
Broad picked up both wickets to fall in the morning, dismissing Chris Rogers (one) with the first ball of his second over when the left-handed opener could only fend to Ian Bell at gully.
He then crucially struck again just before lunch, ending a promising second-wicket stand of 59 when he had Shane Watson caught by a diving Graeme Swann at second slip. The all-rounder offered a lazy-looking prod at one outside off stump to depart for an uncharacteristically circumspect 22.
Warner had looked more assertive, delighting the home faithful by hitting Broad's opening delivery of the series for the first of his six boundaries.
The left-hander also found the rope to bring up the home side's half-century, lofting spinner Swann back over his head.
Yet he was part of a shocking collapse after the interval that was triggered by the loss of captain Clarke, a Broad short ball getting him in all sorts of trouble and resulting in him looping a catch straight up to Bell at short leg.
"Brad (Haddin) and myself put on a nice partnership of 100 and that was a really important part of the day. We are definitely back in the game"
Mitchell Johnson
Warner had to drag himself from the crease after slapping a Broad long hop straight to Kevin Pietersen at cover, his departure leaving Australia wobbling at 83-4.
They were five down just after reaching three figures when Anderson got in on the act, debutant George Bailey (three) perishing in the corridor of uncertainty as an edge was snaffled by Alastair Cook at first slip.
The England skipper also clung on to a comfortable chance to see the back of Steven Smith for 31, giving Tremlett - selected ahead of Steve Finn and Boyd Rankin - his first Test scalp since July 2011 and leaving Haddin to battle on with only the lower order for company.
Haddin certainly gave it a good go and he found the perfect partner in Johnson as the duo got themselves well set.
Australia's Mitchell Johnson believes they are still in the game after a tough opening day in the first Ashes Test.
Haddin brought up his 13th Test half-century off 100 balls, while Johnson's 50 followed soon after off 115 deliveries.
However their record seventh-wicket stand against England at the Gabba was brought to an end when Broad got one to nip through the gate and clean up Johnson.
And having beaten the bat on several occasions, Anderson finally found the edge of Peter Siddle - with Cook taking the catch low at first slip.

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