Australian paceman Peter Siddle destroyed England's lower middle order by taking a hat-trick and finishing with 6-54 as the visitors were dismissed for 260 late on the first day of the first Ashes Test on Thursday.

Australia's Simon Katich and Shane Watson, anxious to avoid the fate England suffered when skipper Andrew Strauss was out for a duck on the third ball of the match, successfully negotiated the last seven overs of the day to reach 25 for none at stumps.

Siddle, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, claimed the key wickets of Kevin Pietersen (43) and Alastair Cook (67) in two brilliant spells that pegged the tourists back just when they looked like taking control.

The day began in a dramatic fashion when England captain Andrew Strauss, after winning the toss and electing to bat was dismissed off the third ball of the day, caught by Mike Hussey at third slip off Ben Hilfenhaus.

Shane Watson then managed to get one past Jonathan Trott's defence to castle him with the scoreboard reading 41-2.

Watson was the pick of the bowlers for Australian in the morning session could have had another wicket to his kitty had had debutant Xavier Doherty not dropped Alastair Cook when he was on 26.

There was lot of pressure when Kevin Pietersen had walked in the middle, with not only the team in trouble, but also his form, which wasn't great.

Pietersen was cautious to start with and then stepped on the pedal as he started scoring freely. Cook at the other end was watchful and patient as the duo put on a 76-run stand for the third wicket.

However, Pietersen's innings was cut short by Siddle, who in his second spell, enticed him to go for an expansive drive, and was caught in the slips by Ricky Ponting.

Paul Collingwood too couldn't last long as he too edged one to Marcus North in the slips with just 4 runs to his name.

Cook hit a half-century to help England recover from the quick blows. He was ably supported by Ian Bell, who looked in good knick as well.

Siddle continued to trouble the batsmen as Bell survived a leg-before-wicket shout.

Cook continued to slowly accumulate runs to claim his 23rd half-century in Test cricket but only his second against the Australians.

Bell too reached his half-century as the duo put up a 72-runs stand for the fifth wicket.

Then Siddle struck a body blow on England as he clinched a hat-trick, to become the 11th Australian to take hat-trick in Test cricket.

He first removed Cook, who had held the England innings together before the bustling right-arm quick had him caught by Shane Watson at second slip for 67.

Siddle then produced a venomous full delivery that took out wicketkeeper Matt Prior's middle stump and sent him back to the dressing room with a golden duck.

Siddle produced another brilliant swinging full delivery that struck the batsman on the toe, umpire Aleem Dar raising his finger for lbw with his decision upheld after Broad appealed to the television umpire.

Graeme Swann managed to fend off the last delivery of the over and Siddle was given a standing ovation as he returned to his fielding position on the boundary as only the 11th Australian to take a hat-trick in a Test match.

He then removed Graeme Swann as he finished with figures of 16-3-54-6.

Debutant Doherty picked up his first wicket in Test match, when he had Bell lofting one to Watson in covers. Doherty then cleaned up Anderson, as England were bundled out for 260.