Broad demolishes Oz

Fast-medium bowler Broad took eight for 15 in 9.3 overs as he smashed through the Test wicket mark in a scintillating performance at Trent Bridge

Nottingham: Stuart Broad took eight wickets as England skittled out Australia for 60 in a historically quick 111 balls on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test on Thursday. Fast-medium bowler Broad took eight for 15 in 9.3 overs as he smashed through the 300 Test wicket mark in a scintillating performance at Trent Bridge. Broad said the performance had been ‘unbelievable’.

Australia's innings was wrapped up in just 18.3 overs -- the quickest any team has ever been bowled out in the first innings of a Test -- during a stunning 94 minutes' play. Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Starc checked England's progress by taking all three wickets to fall as the hosts reached tea on 99 for three -- a lead of 39 runs.

Joe Root was 33 not out and Jonny Bairstow two not out in a match where an England victory would give them an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series and see them regain the Ashes. Cloudy overhead conditions offered some assistance to the bowlers and doubtless prompted Cook's decision to field first upon winning the toss.

But they were not 'unplayable'. Broad bowled well, maintaining an excellent line and length on his Nottinghamshire home ground. However, several of his wickets owed much to poor shots by Australia batsmen who again cemented their reputation as 'flat-track bullies' unable to cope with sideways movement caused by the seaming ball especially.

Eight Australia batsmen were caught in the cordon -- all off Broad -- and one by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, with Peter Nevill bowled by Steven Finn. Mitchell Johnson (13) and Australia captain Michael Clarke (10) were the only batsmen to make double figure scores in the innings.

Australia's total -- with extras the top score on 14 -- was the lowest by either side in an Ashes innings since England were dismissed for 52 at The Oval in 1948. "It's pretty unbelievable. It's not sunk in," Broad told Sky Sports during the innings break after drawing level with England great Fred Trueman's career tally of 307 Test wickets.

“We knew Trent Bridge would offer us something but we had to bowl well and take our catches.” The 29-year-old Broad, leading the attack in the absence of the injured James Anderson -- England's all-time leading wicket-taker -- needed just three balls in Thursday's first over to take his 300th Test wicket when opener Chris Rogers, on nought, edged to Cook at first slip.

SCORE BOARD

Australia 1st innings: Chris Rogers c Cook b Broad0, David Warner c Buttler b Wood 0, Steve Smith c Root b Broad 6, Shaun Marsh c Bell b Broad 0, Michael Clarke c Cook b Broad 10, Adam Voges c Stokes b Broad 1, Peter Nevill c Finn 2, Mitchell Johnson c Root b Broad 13, Mitchell Starc c Root b Broad1, Josh Hazlewood not out 4, Nathan Lyon c Stoke b Broad 9; Extras: (lb-11, nb-3)14; Total(all out; 18.3 overs) 60; Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-10, 3-10, 4-15, 5-21, 6-29, 7-33, 8-46, 9-47; Bowling: Stuart Broad 9.3-5-15-8, Mark Wood 3-0-13-1, Steven Finn 6-0-21-1; England 1st innings: A Lyth c Nevill b Starc 14, A Cook lbw b Starc 43, I Bell lbw b Starc 1, J Root batting 33, J Bairstow batting 2;Extras (b-1, lb-1, nb-4) 6; Total (3 wkts) 99; Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-34, 3-96; Bowling: Starc 9-0-33-3, Hazlewood 10-2-26-0, Johnson 7-1-30-0, Lyon 3-1-8-0.