Just getting to wear his baggy green cap again wasn't enough for Peter Siddle to celebrate his 26th birthday yesterday.
The barrel-chested Victorian, nicknamed Sid Vicious, put the icing on his cake with a stunning hat-trick to start Australia's Ashes revenge mission superbly at the Gabba.
Still bristling from being a part
of the team that lost the last series 2-1 in England, Siddle took a career-best 6-54 to bowl the tourists out for 260 and have his team well on top in the first test.
His performance silenced a swag of critics who believed the paceman didn't deserve to unseat left-armer Doug Bollinger after being sidelined for nine months with a back injury.
"It's just been an amazing day, it's obviously good to be back playing again and do something for the boys out there" he said.
"I don't want to feel mean to parents or friends who have given me presents over the years but I think that's definitely going to be one of the best birthday presents I'll ever get."
His first hat-trick since playing as a 13-year-old in country Victoria, Siddle fed off the crowd of 35,339 for a searing yorker that struck Stuart Broad on the toes and had him leg before wicket.
"It was very loud out there and did pump me up," he said.
"I just wanted to charge in and bowl fast and hit the top of off [stump].
"The execution wasn't quite there but obviously to get him on the full and with a bit of shape, it was a dream ball and one I'll remember for a long time."
Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich took Australia to 0-25 at stumps.
