Siddle the slaughterer as hat-trick crushes English enthusiasm
Published:The optimism lasted just three balls as Andrew Strauss cut a ball straight down the throat of Mike Hussey, and England are staring at defeat after Peter Siddle’s six-wicket haul.
Australia entered the game 11/10 in the Ashes betting market to win the first Test, but they have been slashed to 2/5 to win after the bowling performance of Siddle – although England can take some comfort in the poor performances of Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson.
Siddle’s hat-trick will have also seen his odds slashed to be Australia’s top series runscorer and the fiery Aussie can expect to be an odds-on shot despite entering the first Test 6/1 to be the top wicket-taker.
Ian Bell and Alistair Cook were the only highlights of the England innings and the bowling attack has a job to do to keep England in this Test match.
As it stands, Australia finished the final day on 25-0, 235 runs behind England and James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be given the ball first.
But Australia have only scored less than 400 in three of their 13 first innings against England at the Gabba, and Australia are 5/6 to score more than 400.5 first innings runs.
Simon Katich was the more attacking of the two Australian openers in the seven overs both he and Shane Watson faced, and Katich is 5/6 to score over 48.5 runs, he averages 34.38 against England.
We witnessed Cook play a patient knock of 67 from 168 balls, and Watson is seemingly following Cook’s mantra.
Watson is 4/1 to score 100 and after 11 centuries in the past five Tests between the two at the Gabba, it’s just a case of which Australian batsman will reach the milestone.
Ricky Ponting could be that man and the Australian skipper is 4/1 to be Australia’s top first innings runscorer.
A £10 stake on Ponting top scoring in the first innings for Australia would return £50. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.
