Australia took control of the fourth Ashes Test with devastating swing bowling and positive batting on a dramatic first day on Friday. Seamers Peter Siddle and Stuart Clark sliced through the England batting order to dismiss the host for 102, its lowest total in an Ashes Test at Headingley for 100 years. Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting shared a quickfire second-wicket partnership of 119 and the touring side ended the day on 196 for four, a lead of 94 runs as it bid to level the series. Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 34 at the close with Marcus North on seven. England's day started badly when all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was ruled out through injury but its captain Andrew Strauss won the toss. He survived a shout for lbw to the first ball of the match but lasted only 17 balls and scored three runs before edging Siddle to third slip where North took a brilliant one-handed catch. Ravi Bopara made one before he tamely prodded Ben Hilfenhaus to Michael Hussey at gully and Ian Bell, on eight, failed to avoid a short ball from Mitchell Johnson. Paul Collingwood edged a vintage Clark outswinger straight to Ponting at second slip for a duck and Alastair Cook's resistance ended on 30 when he edged Clark to Clarke at first slip. Stuart Broad was caught at short mid-wicket by Simon Katich off Clark for three to leave England reeling on 72 for six at lunch. The procession continued in the afternoon as Graeme Swann, Steve Harmison, James Anderson and Graham Onions fell in quick succession to Siddle, who finished with Test-best figures of five for 21. Clark took three for 18. Watson smashed the first two balls of Australia's innings for four but the touring side lost Katich for nought when he fended a rising Harmison delivery to Bopara at leg gully. Ponting batted aggressively from the start, taking 17 off Onions opening over. Ponting moved on to 78 and looked on course for another Test century but he misjudged a full delivery from Broad and was adjudged lbw. Hussey also started well but he too was fooled by Broad's line and trapped lbw for 10. Earlier, England's preparations were hit by a series of mishaps starting at 0400 GMT when the players were evacuated from their hotel due to a fire alarm.
