Peter Siddle collects his Test wickets at nearly 32 runs a piece, averages exactly 16 with the bat and takes a hat-trick every 13 years.
The toothy fast bowler filleted England's middle-order by taking the wickets of Alastair Cook, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad with three successive deliveries to launch the much-anticipated Ashes series in spectacular fashion on day one at The Gabba.
It was quite a way for Siddle to celebrate his 26th birthday and vindicate the selectors' bold decision to thrust Siddle, who has been out injured for 10 months, straight in the heat of an Ashes battle ahead of Doug Bollinger.
Siddle will probably struggle to remember the name of the schoolboys he knocked over for his first hat-trick as a 13-year-old but the names of the England batsman will live long in the memory of the fiery Victorian.
"It was an amazing day," said Siddle. "The crowd started to get behind me. It didn't really worry me too much, it being a hat-trick ball. The crowd starting roaring, and it was very loud out there and definitely did pump me up."
After tempting Cook to edge an away swinger to Shane Watson at slip and then bowling Prior, Siddle was then attempting to clip Broad's off-stump with the hat-trick ball. Yet he was so pumped up that he unleased a toe-crushing yorker which caught the left-hander plumb in front. Broad opted to review the decision, not for the first time in his career, but it merely delayed the inevitable.
"I wanted to charge in, bowl fast and try to hit the top of off," Siddle said. "The execution wasn't quite there, but obviously to hit him on the full like that was a dream ball that I'll remember for a long time."
It was the first hat-trick in a Ashes Test match since Darren Gough, the England pace bowler, took the wickets of Ian Healy, Stuart MacGill and Craig Miller in Sydney in January 1999.
Like Gough, Siddle has suffered with injury and has spent the best part of a year on the sidelines with a stress fracture of the lower back. He said that during his lay-off he vowed to return a more professional cricketer.
"I knew there were things I'd taken for granted. My body wasn't in good shape for Test cricket," Siddle said.
He said he was inspired by Australia teammate Mitchell Johnson. "He's in good shape, he's played consistent cricket for four years and he's never injured. That showed me I had to work hard and get the body right and push to be a competitive Test cricketer."
Siddle was also fired by the motivation of the defeat to England last year. Ricky Ponting, the captain, deliberately put the whole team through the experience of watching England celebrate at close quarters.
"I can still remember it now, the last wicket falling at The Oval Test and going out in the field for the presentation, seeing the boys going up on to that stage and 'yahooing' and cheering and getting handed the urn," said Siddle. "It's definitely something we don't want to see again."
* Compiled by The National staff with agencies
Hat-tricks at the Ashes
Player Team Venue Year
Peter Siddle Australia Brisbane Yesterday
Darren Gough England Sydney January 2, 1999
Shane Warne Australia Melbourne December 29, 1994
Hugh Trumble Australia Melbourne January 5, 1904
Hugh Trumble Australia Melbourne January 4, 1902
Jack Hearne England Leeds June 30, 1899
Johnny Briggs England Sydney February 2, 1892
Billy Bates Australia Sydney January 20, 1883
Frederick Spofforth Australia Melbourne January 2, 1879
HAJJAN
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Brahmastra%3A%20Part%20One%20-%20Shiva
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Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Honeymoonish
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