Stuart Broad silences Ashes critics with five-wicket haul - pictures and video

Broad – panned in the Aussie media before the first Test in Brisbane today – responded in the best way possible, claiming 5-65 as the home side were reduced to 273-8.

The England bowler was told to expect abuse in this Ashes series after he infamously failed to walk at Trent Bridge in the summer.

Indeed the Brisbane Courier-Mail – which has mocked Kevin Pietersen this week – produced a front page today which told fans to give Broad the silent treatment.

The headline encouraged Gabba supporters to ignore the "smug Pommy cheat" but they failed to heed the advice as the mercilessly booed the 27-year-old quickie.

The Courier-Mail – whose Wikipedia page was also hacked today to show their editor as Stuart Broad – also announced a 'Broad Ban. The paper states it will simply refer to the Notts star as a "27-year-old medium pace bowler."

Australia coach Darren Lehmann also got stuck into him, labelling him a cheat, urging every Aussie to 'get stuck into him' Down Under so Broad "cries and goes home".

The media tactic, however, backfired spectacularly today as Broad stole the show on the opening day of the Ashes.

After the Aussies won the toss on a flat Gabba track, Broad bowled with pace and aggression, taking the key wickets of David Warner, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke before removing Mitchell Johnson's middle peg late on in the day.

For the return series Aussie paper The Courier Mail has vowed not to mention the player's name, issuing a 'Broad Ban' and labelling him a 'smug Pommie cheat'.

The 27-year-old was greeted with a chorus of boos from a sold-out Gabba crowd of 42,000 today – but he did his talking with the ball, taking 5-65 to leave the Aussies struggling on 273-8 at the end of day one of the first Test.

Broad said: "There was a lot of build-up to this tour, a lot of talk. I'd prepared myself for boos and a bit of stick, but I quite enjoyed it. It certainly feels better with five wickets. The Aussies are tough fans but they respect good sport."

England are seeking to win a fourth Ashes series for the first time since 1890 and even Broad's father, Chris, couldn't resist having a pop at the Aussies after his son's heroics today.

The former England batsman and current International Cricket Council match referee tweeted: "Come on the Courier Mail in Brisbane. What's the star performer's name?"

While former England captain Geoffrey Boycott said of the Aussies treatment of Broad: "Most Australians I know have always believed in not walking. They take pride in that so why is there so much going on about Broad? It must be because they have been losing to England to try to make him the pantomime villain."

"He's a good bowler. He has had a lot of decisive wicket-taking spells. Every year he is going to get better with more experience and knowledge. They won't like what they have seen here today!"

The second of five day's play in the first Test starts at midnight. There are five Tests in the series with the fifth and final match taking place in Sydney on January 2 next year.