NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom: England's Stuart Broad took eight wickets as Australia, after losing the toss, sensationally collapsed to 60 all out on the first day of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Fast-medium bowler Broad's Test-best return of eight for 15 in 9.3 overs, after England won the toss on his Nottinghamshire home ground, started with two wickets in the first over of the match -- including his 300th in Tests.
England lead the five-match series 2-1 and victory at Trent Bridge would see them regain the Ashes.England captain Alastair Cook won the toss in overcast conditions that promised to assist swing and seam bowling and saw his decision vindicated in the most dramatic style imaginable, with paceman Broad taking two wickets in the first over of the match.
Broad, leading the attack in the absence of injured James Anderson -- England's all-time leading wicket-taker -- needed just three balls on his Nottinghamshire home ground to take his 300th Test wicket when opener Chris Rodgers, on nought, edged to Cook at first slip.
It was the first duck of Rogers's 46-innings career in Test cricket.
Four balls after becoming just the fifth England bowler after Anderson, Ian Botham, Bob Willis and the late Fred Trueman to take 300 Test wickets, Broad struck again.
Steven Smith, squared up and aiming legside, was held by Joe Root at third slip for six.
Durham quick Mark Wood, in for Anderson, then reduced Australia to 10 for three.
Wood struck just two balls into the second over when David Warner, Rogers' fellow left-handed opener, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler off the inside edge by a sharply moving delivery that cut back off the pitch.
Rogers and Wood became the first Australia openers to both fall for ducks in an Ashes Test innings since Arthur Morris and Jack Moroney at Brisbane in 1950.
Top-order batsman Shaun Marsh, brought in to replace dropped younger brother Mitchell, then fell for a duck when he was caught in the slips by Ian Bell off Broad.
And the 29-year-old Broad then had Adam Voges (one) brilliantly caught one-handed by diving fifth slip Ben Stokes to leave Australia 21 for five in the fifth over.
Australia captain Michael Clarke's desperate run of form continued when, driving loosely outside off stump against Broad, he was well caught by a leaping Cook at first slip to leave the tourists 29 for six.
The 34-year-old Clarke's exit meant one of the best batsmen of his generation had now managed just 104 runs in seven innings this series at an average of 17.
Broad, the son of Ashes-winning former England batsman Chris Broad, had taken five wickets for six runs in 19 balls.
It was the 14th time in 83 Tests that Broad had taken five wickets in an innings.
Broad, whose spells at The Oval in 2009 and Chester-le-Street in 2013 had helped England seal Ashes series wins, had now gone a long way to helping England, 2-1 up in the current five-match series, regain the urn after their 5-0 thrashing in Australia in 2013/14.
Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn, who took a Test-best six for 79 at Edgbaston, got in on the act with his eighth ball when he bowled wicket-keeper Peter Nevill (two).
Australia, once more ruthlessly exposed by the moving ball, were now an astounding 33 for seven in 9.2 overs.
Broad then removed Mitchell Starc (one) and Mitchell Johnson (13) with the aid of slip catches by Root to reduce Australia to 47 for nine in 13 overs.
His personal haul then stood at a remarkable seven wickets for 11 runs in 42 balls.
England bowlers with 300 Test wickets (wickets, matches, bowler)
413 (107) - James Anderson
383 (102) - Ian Botham
325 (90) - Bob Willis
307 (67) - Fred Trueman
306 (83) - Stuart Broad
Note: Broad's tally as at his seventh wicket Thursday.
Agencies
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