Daily Cricket News

Siddle leads charge at MCG

Australian paceman Peter Siddle has struck again, dismissing Kevin Pietersen lbw in the Boxing Day Ashes Test.

Pietersen made 51 and England are three for 262 in their first innings, a lead of 164.

Siddle has taken all three wickets, while Jonathan Trott is 46 and Paul Collingwood is the new batsman for England.

England remain well-placed to retain the Ashes.

Resuming on 0-157 in reply to Australia's 98, England lost openers Alastair Cook (82) and Andrew Strauss (69) in the morning session of the second day's play.

England reached 2-226 at lunch with Kevin Pietersen on 30 and Jonathan Trott 31 not out.

Siddle struck in the fifth over of the day as Cook fell 18 runs shy of his third century of the series, caught at first slip after an opening stand of 159 with Strauss.

Four overs later Siddle's alarming bounce had Strauss jumping around and top-edging to gully where Mike Hussey took a high-leaping catch.

Left-armer Mitchell Johnson was unable to repeat his in-swinging heroics of the third Test in Perth, where he took 6-38 in England's first innings.

Swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, with only two wickets in three Tests in the series so far, was also unable to break through.

Leg-spinner Steve Smith brought some excitement to the game as Pietersen launched into two powerful fours down the ground in Smith's first over of the day.

Smith fought back with a maiden in his second over as Pietersen mis-timed a series of lusty cut shots and Trott shielded his ultra-aggressive batting partner from the final over before lunch.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke top-scored for Australia with 20 on Sunday and admitted there were no excuses for the lack of discipline shown by Australia's batsmen, and also their bowlers who pitched too short on day one.

The series is level at one-all but Ashes holders England had already taken a stranglehold of the fourth Test after just one day, leaving Australia's hopes of a series victory looking fanciful.