Hussey steadies ship but England are trimmed into 3/1 to win
Published:It was a spirited response from England’s bowlers but Messrs Anderson, Broad, Finn and Swann have plenty of work to do if England are to win the first Test.
The second day’s play has seen plenty of movement in the Ashes betting market with Australia lengthening slightly to 4/9 from 2/5.
But it’s England who are gaining confidence in the betting market and are now 3/1 from 9/2 to win the first Test.
A promising start to the Australian innings was brought to an end when the wickets of Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich were taken for just 22 runs, but Michael Hussey’s 81 has put Australia in a promising position as Ponting’s men ended the day on 220/5.
Just 40 runs short of England’s first innings total and with five wickets in hand, Australia will be hoping to amass a lead of at least 100 runs and they are 5/6 to score over 352.5 runs.
But if the England attack can strike early on day three, Mitchell Johnson offers the only serious threat from the Aussie tail end and England will be hopeful of bowling Australia out for under 300.
Johnson averages 22.88 in Test matches but enters the match of the back of a magnificent 121 off 143 balls in his last game for Western Australia.
Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus all average around 15 runs in Test matches and should offer little resistance to the England attack.
The wickets of Hussey, Brad Haddin and Johnson are vital in England’s attempts to win this Test match and should Andrew Strauss’ men take these wickets early on Thursday, England will be back in with a great chance of winning the first Test.
Although it will be down to England’s batsman to accumulate a strong lead in the second innings and Ian Bell is 9/2 to be England’s top 2nd innings runscorer.
A £10 stake on England winning the first Test would return £40. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.
