Sorry, Siddle, I got it wrong! Aussie veggie ripped the heart out of England's top order... and I'm left eating humble pie



For a man who claims to be a vegetarian, Peter Siddle does a passable impression of a carnivore, given the way he ripped the heart out of England's batting attack at Trent Bridge.

I took a hammering on Twitter following Siddle's heroics on day one of the first Ashes Test.



My overnight verdict that England would toss Australia aside this summer prompted every savant between Nottingham and Adelaide to tweet their disdain.

The toast of Australia: Peter Siddle took five wickets as England were bowled out for 215 at Trent Bridge

Could Australia's motley crew even manage to give England a game, I cajoled. My appraisal was that the tourists would capitulate; a hopeless bunch of also-rans who don't deserve to fill the boots of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath et al.



And the day's play at Trent Bridge started as well for me as it did badly for Siddle. He went for 27 off his first four overs, hauled off by captain Michael Clarke, but, crucially, given an instant reprieve at the Radcliffe Road end.



And that was the point at which the day turned as he cleaned up Joe Root with an absolute jaffa. Full, fast, it swung and young Root's off-stump went a-cartwheeling out of the ground.



Pumped up: Siddle celebrates taking his fifth wicket of the innings after dismissing Matt Prior

But there was more to follow, four more in fact, as Siddle, snarling and growling his way through the England middle order with a ferocious spell of bowling.



He tore the flesh out the heart of the England line-up with a killer instinct in stark contrast to his vegetarian eating habits.

Kevin Pietersen edged behind, Jonathan Trott dragged on, Ian Bell nibbled at one and Matt Prior was tempted into an airy waft outside off. It was thrilling to watch. Even as an England supporter. I'll hold my hands up, I got it wrong, I failed to acknowledge Siddle's position as the highest-ranked bowler on display - No 5 in the current ICC rankings.



Gone: Jonathan Trott looks on in despair after dragging on to his stumps as Siddle reels off in celebration

He sits above Graeme Swann, James Anderson and Stuart Broad and finished the day with figures of 14-4-50-5. And I failed to acknowledge just how the Aussie psyche thrives in the theatre of competition. Humble pie all round. Honestly.

