Ashes 2015: 'It's Pomicide' - world reacts to Australia's collapse

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It did not make for pleasant viewing for the Australia fans inside Trent Bridge

On the morning of Thursday, 6 August 2015 the nation stopped to digest one of the most extraordinary sporting collapses of recent times.

The 2015 Ashes series has been anything but predictable, but what happened during the opening session of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge truly beggared belief:

  • Australia all out before lunch

  • Shortest first innings in Test history

  • Stuart Broad's 8-15 equals fastest five-wicket haul in Tests

  • Extras top-scored for the first time in Ashes cricket

  • England 20-1 ON with some bookmakers to win series

This is how the world reacted throughout the morning:

10:40 BST: England win the toss

England skipper Alastair Cook said it was "not a straightforward decision" to put Australia in to bat.

But he assessed the green pitch, which aids fast seam bowling, and the overcast and muggy conditions, for swing, and put his faith in pace merchants Broad, Mark Wood and Steven Finn.

Nottinghamshire bowler Broad went into the match on 299 Test wickets. "I couldn't pick a better place to try and get 300," he said at his home ground.

Image source, Opta

11:06: Broad strikes for magic 300 - Aus 4-1

It's an early breakthrough for England and Broad, who reaches the milestone. Australia opener Chris Rogers falls for the first duck of his Test career.

Image source, Nottinghamshire

11:12: Tourists stunned - Aus 10-3

Eight balls bowled and Michael Clarke's men are three wickets down! Trent Bridge is stunned and the Australia lower order are looking for their pads.

Image source, Alec Stewart
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The former England skipper was getting excited about his country's prospects

11:28: Five down, humiliation ahead - Aus 21-5

Social media is at fever-pitch as news of extraordinary events in Nottingham reaches office workers up and down the country.

Shaun Marsh finds Ian Bell at second slip off the bowling of Broad, before Durham's Ben Stokes produces one of the catches of the series at fifth slip to send Adam Voges packing.

The Australia fans who stayed up late retreat to the shelter of their duvets.

Image source, Notts Police

11:39: Clarke's 'horror' makes it five for Broad - Aus 29-6

The tourists' display is summed up by skipper Michael Clarke's speculative and poor attempt to drive a wide delivery from Broad.

The 29-year-old seamer's figures at the end of the over: 4-3-6-5.

Image source, Andrew Samson
Image source, Michael Vaughan
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The former England captain was probably right

12:15: Eating words for lunch, Shane? - Aus 47-9

Image source, Shane Warne

The legendary former Australia spinner tweeted the above following last week's loss at Edgbaston, although few would have labelled him overly optimistic for suggesting they could level the series here.

With 45 minutes to go before lunch, Broad removes the 'Mitchell brothers' of Starc and Johnson in the space of three deliveries. Nine wickets have fallen in only 78 deliveries.

Image source, Josh Widdicombe
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The collapse was proving to be a great material for comedians

Image source, Stuart Broad's Wikipedia page
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Stuart Broad's Wikipedia bio was given a small tweak in reaction to his heroic exploits

12:39 - Australia 60 all out

Image source, Kevin Pietersen

The final pair of John Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon seem to hang around for a relative age before they succumb to the inevitable.

Broad finishes with figures of 8-15 and five maidens from 9.3 overs.

As for Australia, these stats tell their story:

  • The fourth time in Test history that a team have bowled out before lunch on day one

  • Australia's joint seventh-lowest total in Test.

  • The earliest fall of the fourth, fifth and sixth wicket in Test cricket

Cue the ribbing...

Image source, Ramesh Srivats
Image source, Crimestoppers
Image source, Rory Bremner
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The comedian and big cricket fan could not but help get involved

Image source, Jonesy
Image source, Have I Got News for You

...and the misery

Image source, Sydney Morning Herald
Image source, Herald Sun
Image source, Lyndal Curtis
Image source, Sydney Morning Herald
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The Sydney Morning Herald managed to find some humour in what was a very disappointing day for the cricket-loving nation

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