Broad silences Gabba boo-boys

Brisbane- Broad is the Englishman Australians currently love to and are encouraged here to hate, after his at times controversial role in last summer’s 3-0 Ashes victory, and he duly gave them five more reasons to do so.

He was the driving force as the hosts were reduced to 132 for six by mid-afternoon - before Brad Haddin (78no) and Mitchell Johnson (64) redressed the balance in a much-needed century stand on the way to a stumps total of 273 for eight, which was still below par after Australia had chosen to bat in sunny conditions.

Predictably booed when announced to bowl the second over after a James Anderson maiden, Broad took the first wicket of the series with just 12 runs on the board. David Warner and Shane Watson appeared to settle home nerves with a half-century stand, only for Broad to strike again either side of lunch with the next three to fall - including the prize of home captain Michael Clarke for just a single. Broad (five for 65) began his Ashes by dropping short a no-ball which Warner pulled for four - much to the delight of the home support.

With only his seventh legitimate delivery, though, Broad struck.
On a pitch providing plenty of bounce, but no evident sideways movement, he had Chris Rogers splicing a simple catch to gully to depart for just a single.

In the same over, number three Watson was under way off Broad with an unconvincing poke for three just over the head of Michael Carberry at point.

Broad’s next over then started with a ramp shot by Warner high over the slips which bounced only a few yards inside the rope at a fine third-man.

Anderson had a less hectic but impressive initial spell, four overs at the cost of just seven runs before being replaced by Chris Tremlett at the Vulture Street end.
Australia were set to close out the morning until Watson pushed out on the back foot at Broad and was well caught by Graeme Swann, diving away to his right at second slip.

Clarke kept out the remainder of the over. But to the very first short ball from Broad after lunch, he could not get out of the way and gloved a simple catch to short-leg.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

Warner undid his good work, one short of his 50, when he mistimed an attempted back-foot force off Broad straight to cover to complete a damaging sequence of three wickets for 12 runs.

It was an especially tame end to a spirited innings from the combative opener - and although debutant George Bailey then began confidently with an on-drive off Broad for three first ball, he made no more runs from another 14 before edging the deserving Anderson low to first slip in back-foot defence.