Live Blogs / Ed Hawkins / 02 January 2011 /

Ed Hawkins was on hand to take you through the action from the SCG after Australia won the toss and decided to bat. Follow him on Twitter here

CLOSE Aus 134-4
As predicted, the stop-start nature of the day really did not help Australia. The rhythm that Shane Watson and Usman Khawaja had built after lunch was lost and the home side can consider themselves unfortunate to be four down. They will be incredulous that just as they seem to put England on the ropes, Mother Nature rocks up to help the Poms. Still, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin will be paired first thing on day two and their most profitable partnership should be capable of runs. There is no rain forecast for the rest of the match. We are happy that top-rated wager - Hussey for top bat - has little to beat while a canny back-to-lay of the draw paid off thanks to the weather. Otherwise the status quo remains. Australia's batting, no matter the excuse, remains shaky and it was depressing for them to see new skip Michael Clarke fail. England were solid - no more than that. Indeed, the most alarming aspect of their performance was their failure to drop Paul Collingwood for Eoin Morgan. A soft call.

03.03 Aus 98-1
Okay folks. That's all from me tonight/this morning. With rain on the way we can expect an early tea to be taken. It will be annoying for Australia if we have a stop-start situation from here on. That will suit England. Here are the prices: Australia [3.15], England [4.20], the draw [2.22].

02.55 BAD LIGHT Aus 92-1
Well, this is odd. they've gone off to wait for the floodlights to come on. But all the while they're off that band of rain shown on our radar earlier is creeping closer. Still, we've had a very nice trade there, proving that you don't need to know anything about cricket to win money betting on it. The bad news for Australia is that Watson and Khawaja will have to start afresh in totally different conditions. Awkward.

BAD LIGHT Aus 92-1
Lay off at [2.18]. There's profit in that.

02.50 Aus 90-1
A few spots of rain have appeared on the camera lens. The draw is onto [2.32] to lay.

02.37 Aus 83-1
Draw is [2.56] at the mo. Not convinced that it has taken into account the weather radar below.

02.35 Aus 83-1
Rain is on its way, folks. Back to lay the draw for a cheeky profit.

02.32 Aus 83-1
The selection of Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad, is a great story for Australia. In a country where one in five were not born there, it is shameful that so few non 'fair dinkums' have represented the national side. Andrew Symonds was the last I think. He was born in Birmingha, Speaking of Symonds, I'll never forget when he came out to bat at the MCG four years ago. 'Have a go you wog!' cried one 'fan'. Nobody batted an eyelid. It is good to see that Australia are now, finally, moving with the times.

02.15 Aus 61-1
Khawaja smashed his second ball for four. He looks to have plenty of time. The hallmark of class.

02.10 Aus 55-1
Usman Khawaja is at the crease, ready to face his first ball in Test cricket. He looked very nervous from the shots of him sat in the 'rooms' and, apparently, when he received his Baggy Green. He has a fine record at SCG in first-class record. In 18 innings he has an average of 54 with two tons and five 50s. He can get caught on the crease early on - I've seen his feet rooted - but once he gets going he is classy-looking. Very dangerous off his legs. High back-lift. Nice cover drive. England will look to get him in conventional fashion. If that does not work, they will test him with the short ball.

LUNCH 01.34 Aus 55-1
Australia's session despite that late wicket. England's pitch map has been almost identical to the first innings at the MCG so it is hard to say that they have bowled poorly. They could have been fuller at times though. Shane Watson, as is his wont in this series, has been solid but Phil Hughes looked to have taken a long, hard look at his game since the fourth Test. It is a shame that for one ball he slipped back to bad habits - that back leg headed past outside leg stump again. Before the wicket England had drifted to [4.20] with Australia [2.84] and the draw [2.40]. Now the situation is thus: Australia [2.98], England [3.30] and the draw [2.70].

WICKET Aus 55-1
P Hughes c Collingwood b Tremlett 31

1.10 Aus 54-0
Michael Atherton says Australia have played proper Test cricket this morning. He is right. They have been disciplined in their shot selection in the face of some handy bowling. Wonder if they rue not approaching every previous innings in this fashion?

01.00 Aus 50-0
Graeme Swann comes on for his first over and is promptly cut to the boundary by Hughes. England, after a decent opening salvo, suddenly look listless. Australia are favs at [2.90] with England [3.35] and the draw [2.66]. We are watching the latter closely.

00.52 Aus 45-0
A bit earlier we saw a shot of Ricky Ponting sat next to Usman Khawaja. That can't be nice for the debutant. One would have thought that it would be best if Australia kept Ponting away from the bloke who has taken his place while he waited to bat for the first time in Tests.

00.47 Aus 43-0
I've spotted a change in Phil Hughes' technique. Each of his innings in this series so far have been notable for the dramatic movement towards square of his back leg. It would often finish up outside leg stump. But he is keeping it in check today to the extent that he is almost bang in line.

00.40 Aus 38-0
Steve Bird has been in touch. "Gulp!! I see a big score coming I'm going with 461 but hope I'm wrong." I like Steve's precision although not too many seem to be looking that far ahead. There is no money to wager on Australia making even 450. Australia's run rate is up to 2.4 per over now.

00.25 Aus 20-0
Australia's run rate is 1.62 this morning. A shame that the session runs market has failed to come alive. Watson and Hughes have been strokeless in the face of some tricky bowling but we have been unable to take advantage. Chicken feed only.

00.08 Aus 14-0
Tremlett bowling nicely while Anderson caused Watson some problems in his previous over. The weather forecast is for cloud all day, by the way. No rain. Look here

23.56 Aus 12-0
We have been highly critical of some of Australia's selections in this series, now it is England's turn. The retention of Paul Collingwood is a soppy, weepy, milk-milky, gooey-eyed rick. The guy averages 14 in the series. Eoin Morgan should have come in. If England want to be the best side in the world they have to be ruthless.

23.45 Aus 5-0
Some Australia first-innings top-bat analysis...

Watson: a poor average of 33 in Tests at the SCG rules out Watson at skinny odds of [4.60].
Hughes: a poor technique and poor return in the series means anyone backing him at [6.40] is guessing. We don't do guessing

Khawaja: the first Muslim to play for Australia is stylish but this is a big ask on debut. Can be loose outside off which England could exploit. He is [6.40].

Clarke: being captain could inspire 'Pup'. When he has been ODI captain his average has improved by more than seven runs. But a SCG average of 29 and poor form rule him out at around [5.00].

Hussey: He has an average of 101 and has scored more runs that anyone else in the last five years at the venue. He was our top-rated bet in the preview for this game. You can get [4.60].

Any Other: Haddin is a big runner at [5.90] because, simply, he is Australia second best batsman. Steve Smith will swap places with him, dropping down to No 7

23.37 Aus 1-0
To reiterate, we think a lay of Australia for 350 or more is the best bet on the first morning. It has shortened to [2.16] currently for small change but this market is normally pretty liquid.

23.31 Aus 0-0
Punting Option 1: Back England at [2.45] expecting them to take early wickets. As David Gower says 'England won't mind bowling in these conditions'. You can then lay off when the damage has been done.

Punting Option 2: Lay Australia on the first-innings runs market. The first-innings average in the last 10 years at the SCG is 380, although in eight Sheffield Shield first innings (both teams) this term, the average is 272. In November, New South Wales were beaten by Tasmania after being bowled out for 97. A lay of Australia for 350 or more at [2.60] is our top rated wager

Punting Option 3: if the ball bends, runs will be hard to come by. There might be some cash around to lay Australia for 80 or more in the first session runs market.

23.27 Australia win the toss and bat
If wickets are going to fall quickly, then one would imagine they will do so this morning. The pitch is green, the skies are cloudy and Australia, who have consistently lost cheap wickets to the first new ball are batting. Indeed, their batting line-up is weaker than at any time in the series with Usman Khawaja, the debutant, in at at No 3. We have three punting options...

23.25 Australia win the toss and bat
Australia: PJ Hughes, SR Watson, UT Khawaja, MJ Clarke*, MEK Hussey, BJ Haddin†, SPD Smith, MA Beer, MG Johnson, PM Siddle, BW Hilfenhaus

England: AJ Strauss*, AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior†, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, JM Anderson, CT Tremlett

23.23 Australia win the toss and bat
Evening all. Michael Clarke's first job as Australia captain is to put his side in. A slightly dubious decision because the pitch is expected to help the bowlers, especially with the conditions overcast. Still, there is nothing in the toss history. Six of the last 12 Tests have been by the side batting first. Here are the prices: Australia [3.60], England [2.32] and the draw [3.35].

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: