Live Blogs / Ed Hawkins / 16 December 2010 /

Ed Hawkins is in front of the television, poised to take you through the first day punting action from the Waca as England look for the win that will ensure they retain the urn. Follow him on Twitter here

CLOSE 10.11 Eng 29-0
England [1.67], Australia [5.30] and the draw [4.60]

09.20 Eng 2-0
Do England struggle on quick wickets? Against South Afroca on a fast Jo'burg surface at the start of the year, their batsmen were blow away for 180 and 169. Certainly there are doubts as to how effective Nos3-6 can be on bouncy surfaces. Jonathan Trott is considered by many to be vulnerable, Kevin Pietersen does not have a back foot game while Paul Collingwood's bat grip makes it difficult for him to get on top of the ball. Jo'burg looks quicker and bouncier though, than this pitch

09.13 Eng 0-0
Strauss and Cook scored 42 and 15 respectively in the first dig at this venue four years ago. In the second innings, Strauss got a duck and Cook 116. Strauss is [5.30] for top bat. Cook is [4.60].

09.08 Aus 268
Will England be disappointed that Australia made as many as they did? At 69-5, this final total looked a long way off but still, this is Test cricket and you have to accepot, and expect, the odd partnership along the way. The key is that this is not a 268 all out wicket. It is good to bat on once you get in. Sure, there will be a little bit of nibble for Australia but we should expect England to post at least 350. England [1.75], Australia [3.68] and the draw [6.40].

09.05 Aus 268
Hilfenhaus c Cook b Swann 13

09.02 Aus 268-9
Frustration for England as Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus throw caution to the wind. It is the highest 10th wicket partnership for Australia at Perth. Worth 35. There are 14 overs left today.

08.45 Aus 233-9
Start delayed due to rain in the first Test between South Africa and India. England as short as [1.69]. Australia, who are [3.75] look likely to be bowled out well below par. The average first-innings score at this ground in the last 10 Tests is 376. Shane Warne reckons 320 is par.

WICKET 08.41 Aus 233-9
M Johnson c Anderson b Finn 62

08.07 Aus 215-8
Johnson has a 50. That should do him good. An insecure sort - look at all the tatoos he's got - scoring runs will help his bowling. It takes the pressure off. he's contributed etc. He is the only bowler Australia have who is capable of hurting England. They will need him at his best.

07.55 Aus 201-8
It is a shame that there is no option on the 'red button' to tune into the stump microphone. if so we would have been able to eavesdrop on the 'conversation' James Anderson and Mitchell Johnson had just before Harris was bowled. It seemed to inspire Anderson, who put his finger to his lips and generally gave it the big one.

WICKET 07.52 Aus 201-8
R Harris b Anderson 3

07.44 Aus 189-7
That wicket sums up Australia's woes quite succinctly. Haddin and Johnson were going along very nicely thank you very much with a 52-run partnership. England were beginning to look as though they lacked ideas and the pitch was flat. So what does Haddin do? He lets them back in by a playing a shot totally out of character. It was a one-day shot with 18 needed off the last over. Crazy.

WICKET 07.41 Aus 189-7
B Haddin c Swann b Anderson 53

07.31 Aus 186-6
Back after the break. Swann continues. The England spinner has 10 wickets in the series. That is joint-top with Steven Finn. Swann is [1.74] to be top England bowler. [2.96] Australia, [2.12] England and [5.10] the draw. Batting looks cosy. England need to be wary of Johnson's big hits biffing them back into contention.

TEA 07.12 Aus 179-6
Blow your own trumpet time. We've had a good day. Haddin to score 50, a trade of Australia which we closed just before a wicket to realise a 0.55-point swing and Phil Hughes' failure. Our match preview suggested this "a lay of Hughes, who has a technique which England have exposed in the past, for a 50 at 2.80 is a solid wager." We have also laid Australia to win the Test. Going to have a bowl of Shredded Wheat Bitesize to celebrate.

07.08 Aus 177-4
Zzzzz. Really useless insight from Sirloin of Beef. "Tom Moody [former WA and Australia allrounder] was up here earlier," he said. "And he said that England were absolutely right to play the spinner." Yeah, I can imagine they really fretted about whether to include the best spinner in the world or not.

07.00 Aus 173-6
Top 5 reasons why SA will win Test series v India
1 At Cape Town, venue for 3rd Test, South Africa have lost only 3 Tests since 1970. Two of them were to the great Australia team

2 Of last 10 Tests away from home, not including Bangladesh, India record is indifferent: won four and lost three

3 South Africa's attritional style with Kallis calling the shots, does not suit India. See New Zealand frustrating them last time

4 India have fitness concerns over Zaheer Khan their go-to bowler Of last 20 Tests w/o him, they've lost seven and won five

5 India have won 1/12 Tests in SA. Lost last three by 5wkts, 174 runs and 123 runs

06.55 Aus 169-6
It is non-stop cricket today. At 08.30 South Africa and India begin their three-Test series. South Africa are [2.10] to win the series and that rates a good wager. Top 5 reasons why coming up in next post. Still waiting for Haddin 50.

06.35 Aus 156-6
Brad Haddin has 45 (see 05.24). Fingers crossed for a winner. It looks as though Mitchell Johnson is going to attack. Could be entertaining. Steven Finn has left the field because he is struggling with a niggle. Kevin Pietersen is also off. James Anderson has just come back on. Revolving door needed at the Waca.

06.20 Aus 139-6
Gambling is all about timing. And a bit of luck, of course. We laid off our Aussie trade at [3.10] at 06.06 and it was darn good job we did. Graeme Swann has done the business for England, snaring the danger man. It went to review after Prior called for it immediately. Satisfying all round.

WICKET 06.17 Aus 137-6
M Hussey c Prior b Swann 61

06.08 Aus 130-5
Hussey's fifth consecutive score of more than 50 against England. Back-to-back boundaries, too as this Waca surface is looking decent. Lots of movement on the market now. England out to [2.18], Australia [3.00] and the draw [4.60]. "Once you're in at the Waca," says David Gower. "It's a lovely place to bat."

06.06 Aus 122-5
Trade. Get out at [3.10]. That has come down quicker than expected.

06.01 Aus 112-5
I suspect that more and more people will be starting to tune in now to the action. The news is that batting is looking quite easy at the moment and Hussey (47) and Haddin (25) are enforcing their reputation in this series as Australia's stellar partnership. Much chat meanwhile about Steven Smith, who batted at No 6 ahead of Haddin. He has an awful technique, simple as that and should be no higher than No 8.

05.45 Aus 88-5
Australia price very keen to reduce. Into [3.55] to lay. Looks like we got on at the right time. It is interesting because the movement is all based around the wicket and the belief that it is a bit of a minefield. The draw steadfastly refuses to budge. That is consistent with the plunge against the stalemate in the build-up when the first reports came out about the surface being green. So even though we are 34 overs in, the match odds market is still being led by wagers struck days before.

05.31 Aus 77-5
Trade. We are expecting a partnership from Australia. And I think the best way to wager is a back-to-lay of Australia at [3.65]. Ordinarily we would use the draw price because it is desperate to get down. Not in this Test, though. Australia's price has held surprisingly well and 50 runs here and we might be able to take some points.

05.24 Aus 71-5
Brad Haddin averages 62 in Tests on this ground and 42 in first-class matches. He is [3.00] for a 50. Not a bad wager. I say again: the pitch is fine. So it is down to whether the Australians can show fight and discipline. If anyone can, Hussey and Haddin can. They did it together at Brisbane.

05.19 Aus 69-5
Basics. England sucker Smith and it was so easy it was laughable. Softened up with a short one - with a hint that his back leg was moving backwards - Tremlett pitched one up and Smith, tentative, didn't get forward enough and edged to slip. Brad Haddin in now.

WICKET 05.16 Aus 69-5
S Smith c Strauss b Tremlett 7

05.11 Aus 66-4
We're back after the break. Australia must hope that England do not bowl well in this session. Hussey is 29 not out and Steven Smith five.

LUNCH Aus 65-4
All very easy for England. Too easy. Australia have been dreadful in this first session. Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke were both guilty of giving their wicket away with poor shots. There really does not seem a great deal wrong with this surface and as stated previously, it has not been responsible for any of the wickets. England, in fact, haven't bowled that well. James Anderson, for example, still looks jet lagged. The problem in terms of wagering on these opinions is that Australia have so little stomach, it is a bigger gamble than it should be to trade their price or the draw. Just a little bit of fight might be nice. England [1.84], Australia [3.85] and the draw [5.70]

04.16 Aus 62-4
A six for Hussey. But it was lucky. Went straight up off the top edge. England have twice got him on the hook/pull in this series and they are looking to do the same here. They have two men out for the shot. Steven Smith, who is perhaps a little high, averages 47 in first-class cricket. That's very good actually. He's no class act with a willow in his hand, though.

03.56 Aus 45-4
I was hopeful of decent liquidity in the first-innings runs market but there's only bits and bobs. Australia are [1.40] for 200 runs or more. They are [2.00] to lay. They are [1.40] and [1.70] for 200 and 225 or more respectively.

03.51 Aus 36-4
England as short as [1.73]. Australia are [4.00] and the draw is [5.90]. None of the four wickets to fall have been down to the pitch. And as if to highlight what a woeful state are in, Steve Smith comes in at No 6. They might not get to 150 here. Now, that gives me an idea...

WICKET 03.47 Aus 36-4
S Watson lbw b Finn 13

03.41 Aus 35-3
Excellent point from Shane Warne; "Players are so used to playing on flat wickets that when they see a green pitch they think 'oh my it's a minfield'." Bettors have reacted the same. As Warne says "it's a good wicket with a bit of grass on".

03.28 Aus 33-3
195, 93 and 52. Those are Mikey Hussey's three scores in the series so far? Now, the phrase 'due a failure' springs to mind. But he averages 45 on this ground ensuring all the planets are coming into line for a wager. He is also a very lucky batsman (as I type he edges through gully for four). He is [3.00] for top Aussie bat and [2.12] for a 50.

03.13 Aus 28-3
Australia [3.55], England [1.98] and the draw [4.60]. All very easy for England. Australians dismissed so far incapable of applying themselves. Hughes: dreadful technique; Ponting: had the arrogance to think he could whack everything. Clarke: nothing shot. Jeez, they're dreadful. Note to Australia cricket team: we need TWO competitive sides to have excellent trading.

WICKET 03.07 Aus 26-3
M Clarke c Prior b Tremlett 4

03.01 Aus 19-2
Australia [3.00], England [2.30] and the draw [4.00].

02.56 Aus 17-2
Not decent enough. One of the great slip catches from Collingwood to remove Ponting and plunge Australia back into crisis. He flew through the air to cling on one-handed. Michael Clarke at the crease.

WICKET 02.53
R Ponting c Collingwood b Anderson 12

02.53 Aus 17-1
I suspect this pitch ain't too bad. In the last 10 Tests only three have been won by side fielding first. Overall16 from 38 Tests have been won by side fielding first. Ponting hits his third boundary. He looks decent.

02.45 Aus 4-1
Australia [2.80], England [2.58] and the draw [3.75].

02.44 Aus 2-1
Tremlett, for the third time on tour, removes a hopeless Phil Hughes. Shame he did it so quickly because I was just compiling a few sentences on why we should lay him for a 50. Annoying. No matter. We'll do it straight up in the second innings. Ricky Ponting is in. My immediate thought was 'we'll lay him instead' but that sounds a bit too much like we're chasing things for my liking. He is [2.02] for a half century.

WICKET 02.40 Aus 2-1
P Hughes b Tremlett 2

02.37 Aus 0-0
Early drama. Shane Watson has successfully referred a decision to give him out caught down the legside. I was just about to post that I'm extremely perturbed by Strauss' decision to bowl first here. Generally, the rule in international cricket is: unless you are playing on an utter minefield, you bat first. Is this a minefield? It looks pretty green but it is also expected to break up, meaning batting last could be tricky.

02.32 Aus 0-0
So plenty of team tinkering from Australia. Out go Katich, North, Bollinger and Doherty. In come Hughes, Smith, Hilfenhaus and Johnson. England have opted for the height and bounce of Chris Tremlett.

02.31 Aus 0-0
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†, GP Swann, JM Anderson, ST Finn, CT Tremlett

02.30 Aus 0-0
Wowzer, it's early. I'm a little bleary eyed. So too is Andrew Strauss. He's chosen to bowl first. We'll dissect that decision but not until I give you the prices: Australia and England [2.80] the pair and the draw [3.45]. I'm here all night gang with the best betting poptions, confident of making you cash.

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