Live Blogs / Ed Hawkins / 25 December 2010 /

Ed Hawkins was rooted to the sofa after too much turkey and mince pies, ready to take you through to lunch on the first day of the pivotal match at the MCG. He called the first session perfectly. Follow him on Twitter here

LUNCH 01.31 Aus 58-4
England's bowlers have justified Andrew Strauss' decision to bowl first at the MCG. And they have justified our faith that the odds were wrong. It seems remarkable that Australia were still favourites until Ricky Ponting was dismissed. The wicket looks as though it is doing plenty: bounce, seam, swing. So batting should continue to be a challenge. Mike Hussey was the big wicket and with Steve Smith looking vulnerable in conditions which, one would think, will horribly expose his technique Australia could be deep in the mire. If Hussey and Clarke were the home side's best chance of a partnership then Clarke and Haddin are the second option. Still, both batsmen start afresh after the break and one would expect England to quickly strike again. Really, they should be capable of running through the home batting. That's all from me. I'm off to bed to nurse a horrible ear infection. Ordinarily we would go all night on day one but I hope that our winners in this session will make up for it. Check the site at the end of play for some in-depth analysis and come back tomorrow for more fun with the live blog.

RAIN 01.25 Aus 58-4
Looks as though our discussion about Smith was a timely one. He almost went first ball. The rain has arrived at the MCG and it is likely an early lunch will be taken. England will be thrilled with their work. They are [1.89] for the win that will see them retain. Australia are [3.60] and the draw is [5.00].

WICKET 01.22 Aus 58-4
M Hussey c Prior b Anderson 8

01.20 Aus 58-3
One of the big problems I had with Australia being favourites for this Test was the use of Steve Smith at No 6. He is barely even good enough to bat at No 8. It is so important, when wagering, to try to think ahead to match scenarios. One question you should always ask about a team you are betting is 'what if they are three or four down for not many - can they recover?' Now, with Australia so skinny at the start of this Test had you asked yourself that poser it is unlikely you would have thought that Smith's inclusion was a positive. I've gone into a bit more depth about my problems with the selection here.

01.14 Aus 57-3
Just wanted to revisit the Bresnan in, Finn out decision. Has a side ever dropped a leading bowler in a series before? I doubt it. The problem I have with England jettisoning Finn on what they will claim is fitness grounds is that, if he isn't strong enough to have played all five, then he shouldn't have gone in the first place. Blog reader Stuart Riley says: "A good friend I used to play with plays for Middlesex and he said before the tour he'd be surprised if Finn played all 5."

01.08 Aus 57-3
Adam Hollioake on Twitter has put his neck on the line. "Any1 wanna bet with me Michael Clarke won't make 20? Big fan of his, but I think culmination of pitch & form will = a sub 20 score." Clarke is [1.90] to score a 50. He has 12.

01.04 Aus 49-3
Australia [2.92] and England [2.30]. If there is going to be a partnership in this innings - and it would be a surprise if there wasn't - then this represents Australia's best chance. Michael Hussey looks in sublime touch while Clarke is showing some stickability. If you want to trade, you could take a gamble on the Australia price shortening. However, bear in mind that after lunch, both batsmen will effectively be starting from scratch.

00.55 Aus 46-3
There's been a bit more banter out in the middle. Here's the best quote about sledging I've read. "The count for the first season was 13 's****', 14 'you bastards', three 'f****' and one 'c***'." That was from World Series Cricket director John Crilly on profanities picked up by microphones in WSC's first season.

00.45 Aus 38-3
England have no referrals left after they try to remove Hussey, who is harder to get rid of than a Christmas pud stain on your best shirt. Interestingly, England got as short as [1.99] as punters wagered on the review. There is no such thing as law of averages as far as betting is concerned, but surely Hussey cannot score well again? He is [2.02] for a seventh consecutive Ashes half-century. Nobody had ever done six in a row before.

00.38 WICKET Aus 37-3
R Ponting c Swann b Tremlett 10

00.33 Aus 37-2
England still not jollies. Still at [2.77]. If you haven't backed them, do so. Hughes, our favourite lay for a 50, has failed again. Hope you were able to get on on a market which had little liquidity because, basically, no-one rates the Aussie leftie. An important wicket for Bresnan, too. That should settle him down a bit because, let's face it, he looks as if he's had not just too many mince pies, but too many actual Xmas dinners. He's a big unit.

WICKET 00.29 Aus 37-2
P Hughes c Pietersen b Bresnan 16

00.23 Aus 26-1
No sledging yet. Mind you that is probably because Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle are not out there. It would be safe to say that Johnson and James Anderson have not exchanged Christmas cards. Matt Prior and Siddle, meanwhile, straight up hate each other apparently. There were rumours they came close to blows in the 'rooms'.

00.15 Aus 26-1
England have wasted a referral on a catch down the legside off Phillip Hughes. When it was apparent that it was a no-go, England jolted from [2.78] to [2.94].

00.05 Aus 19-1
Ponting is averaging 29 in his last nine Test matches. Currently, pitch is looking a little tricky. Anderson is getting some seam movement and has bowled a couple of beauties to Phillip Hughes, who is not good enough for the edge. This is just the sort of wicket that Anderson should be able to thrive on. With Steven Finn dropped, Anderson is now the [2.24] favourite to finish as England's top wicket-taker. Finn has 14, Anderson 12 and Swann 11. The big runner is Tremlett though. He is [4.00] with 11 wickets.

23.58 Aus 17-1
Ricky Pointing is [2.00] for a 50. That is a short price for a chap with a broken finger averaging only 16 in the series. By the way, the draw price at [3.95] to lay is not a bad option. There hasn't been a draw at the MCG since 1997 - 12 Tests ago.

23.50 Aus 15-1
Australia just will not be budged from favouritism, even with that early wicket. Australia [2.58], England [2.78] and the draw [3.85]. Those are virtually the same odds as before a ball was bowled. Ricky Ponting is in. He's a dodgy starter. If he is still there in 20 minutes, England should try to hit him on his broken finger.

WICKET 23.45 Aus 15-1
S Watson c Pietersen b Tremlett 5

23.44 Aus 15-0
"I can't see any way how England can win this," says Geoffrey Boycott. Excellent. We've only had three overs.

23.41 Aus 12-0
As Kevin Pietersen puts down Shane Watson - Paul Collingwood also shelled a difficult chance - it is pertinent to check the opener's price for top bat. He is [5.00]. Hughes is [6.20], Ponting [4.30], Clarke [4.60], Hussey [5.40] and Any Other at [7.00].

23.36 Aus 4-0
There is still no offer to lay Hughes for a 50. He is that bad. So let's have a look at top Australia batsman. Here are the records of the Aussies at the MCG. Before you get excited by Watson's mark, that's only from two innings.
Watson 213
Ponting 62.4
Clarke 50
Hussey 31.6
North 8
Haddin 19.6

23.31 Aus 0-0
Three slips and one gully from England. I hate to start moaning early but if you've just chosen to bowl first because you are expecting seam and swing, two gullies is a must no?

23.27 England win the toss and bowl
So here are the prices then: Australia [2.60], England [2.78] and the draw [3.85]. We have strongly recommended a wager on England in the build-up at [3.30] so we're happy. If you missed that, hard luck. Want another? Lay Phillip Hughes for a 50 if you can get a price. The market is a little slow at the mo but could pick up. Anything up to [3.50] is fine. With his back leg going towards square leg, it is as if he is edging toward the last mince pie on the mantle piece.

23.21 England win the toss and bowl
Have a read of the fourth Test preview here. We are keen on England and have not been put off by the toss result. The score is five-all in terms of toss results (games won batting first v games won batting second) in the last 10 years.

23.11 England win the toss and bowl
Some interesting selection decisions made by both teams. Australia have gone without a spinner. Ian Chappell has called that "crazy". Difficult not to agree. The MCG has taken turn in the past and Michael Vaughan has spoken how this surface will spin, possibly today. It also leaves Australia with a problem ahead of Sydney because that is definitely a spinning wicket and Ricky Ponting has effectively said he has no confidence in his spinners. It could be The Oval 2009 all over again when they left out Nathan Hauritz. For England, Steve Finn - top wicket-taker in the series - is left out for Tim Bresnan. If Finn is knackered, fair enough but I repeat ... top wicket-taker in the series.

23.05 England win the toss and bowl
Australia: PJ Hughes, SR Watson, RT Ponting*, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, BJ Haddin†, SPD Smith, MG Johnson, RJ Harris, 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

23.01 England win the toss and bowl
Festive greetings to you all. I'll be here until lunch to take you through the action from the MCG. Andrew Strauss has won cricket's version of the Christmas cracker pull by calling correctly at the toss. He will bowl first. England have shortened as a result. Into [2.84] from [3.15]. Australia are [2.66] and the draw is [3.60].

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: