Excitement is high as Ricky Ponting and Andrew Strauss set the 2010-11 Ashes in motion at the coin toss in Brisbane; England captain Strauss wins the call and elects to bat first
He safely negotiates the first two balls of the series, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus, but Strauss is then forced to march back to the pavilion after fencing the third ball of the day to Michael Hussey at gully
Australia's fielders celebrate a perfect start from Hilfenhaus, leaving Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott to attempt a recovery, and they get England to 36-1 after the first hour
The first over after drinks is the first from Shane Watson in the match - and it brings Australia a second breakthrough as Trott unexpectedly misses a straight one, falling for 29
Ponting's next throw of the dice is Xavier Doherty, the wildcard from his state side, Tasmania; the slow-left-armer bowls three overs in the run-up to lunch, but more critically drops Cook off Watson on 27
The body language of Marcus North, Brad Haddin and Ricky Ponting tells its own story after Doherty's drop
Kevin Pietersen moves smoothly through the gears to be unbeaten on 23 off 37 balls at lunch, with Cook playing a steady hand on 29 in England's total of 86-2. An absorbing match is beautifully poised...
Peter Siddle puts the Aussies on top soon after lunch, removing first Pietersen (43) and then Paul Collingwood (4) thanks to a couple of well-taken slip catches, with England lurching to 125-4
Cook, whose form has been iffy all year, is the first batsman to post a half-century, which comes off 127 balls. His contribution becomes ever more vital for England's cause on a tightly-contested day
There's another heart-in-mouth moment for England supporters when Australia review a not-out decision for a catch behind off Ian Bell's outside edge. The decision stands, and the Aussies have no reviews left
Cook and Bell put on 72 to push England towards the 200 mark, the in-form Bell looking in magnificent touch
But trouble lurks behind every corner for the tourists. Siddle comes back into the Australian attack and he accounts for Cook, the opener nicking one to Shane Watson at first slip as he departs for 67
The Aussies are buoyant and Siddle steams in to new batsman Matt Prior, bowling full and straight and knocking over the off stump of the England wicket-keeper to send the Gabba crowd into ecstasy
Siddle, a man who some thought should not even be in the Australian team, is on a hat-trick. Stuart Broad comes in and Siddle pings one full at his pads, too quick for Broad. The Australians go up as one for the appeal...
Umpire Aleem Dar's finger goes up and Siddle, 26 today, becomes the 11th Australian to take a hat-trick, the first in the Test match cricket on his birthday. Unsurprisingly, he is mobbed by his delighted team-mates
The Australians are irrepressible and Graeme Swann lasts only nine balls for his 10 runs, trapped plumb lbw by Siddle. The decision is referred but there is little doubt about Umpire Dar's call and Siddle takes his sixth wicket
Bell, rapidly running out of partners due to the carnage at the other end, starts to play more expansively. He moves into the seventies and launches Ben Hilfenhaus over cover for four
But Bell plays one heave-ho too many and holes out in the deep attempting a big hit off Australia's debutant Doherty, who picks up his first Test wicket. Bell is gone for 76, England are teetering on the brink
The end is nigh. James Anderson plays a lovely reverse-sweep of Doherty for four, but soon after he tries to switch-hit again and is bowled by the left-armer. England are all out for 260, a disappointing total
There is time left in the day for the Australians to face eight overs and they do so in relative comfort, with Shane Watson and Simon Katich taking them on to 25-0 at the close of a remarkable opening day
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