Bookmakers have lengthened England's odds on retaining the Ashes after a poor opening day at the Gabba.
Bookmakers back Australia after Siddle's first day heroics
Bookmakers have lengthened England's odds on retaining the Ashes after a poor opening day at the Gabba.
Seamer Peter Siddle grabbed a sensational hat-trick as England were dismissed for a disappointing 260 as the hosts responded to recent criticism in style.
The 26-year-old became only the second Australian to take an Ashes hat-trick in a 100 years, following in the footsteps of Shane Warne, who picked up three-in-a-row in Melbourne 16 years ago.
Sky Bet have reacted to the dramatic first day's action by pushing England out to evens (from 5/6) to retain the urn.
Despite the loss of skipper Andrew Strauss without a run on the board, England battled back to 197-4, with Kevin Pietersen hitting 43 before Siddle struck. Alastair Cook (67) was his first victim, while Matt Prior and Stuart Broad followed for ducks to send the Gabba into delirium.
A solid effort to consolidate from Ian Bell and useful inputs from Graeme Swann and James Anderson steered England to their meagre total of 260, with the hosts closing on 25-0 at stumps.
But despite a problematic first day, Sky Bet's Dale Tempest remains upbeat about England's chances.
"Not the start England cricket fans wanted to see, but if you take out Siddle's hat-trick there were some positives with Cook, Bell and Pietersen showing decent form," he said.
"An England win looks unlikely but there's no reason Strauss' men can't get a draw out of the game."
Sky Bet make the draw in the first Test a 9/2 chance, as is the price for the draw to be the final outcome of the Ashes series.
