fifth test, day one

0610: Why do England always lose wickets in clusters? One inevitably brings two and, given the batting to come, could well bring three, four, five or six.

0600: Those odds-against quotes have all disappeared with Pietersen falling to the hook shot.

0530: For the first time since Adelaide, Australia are actually odds against to win a Test match. Ladbrokes now go 11/10 about the hosts, though many firms still go 10/11. The 3/1 on offer about the draw with Sporting Odds is a stand-out price given the dodgy weather forecast and England's decent start.

2352: England's raindance appears to have worked like a charm in Sydney. Bad weather - and about three days of it - seems the only way England can avoid a whitewash in this series, especially as they are without their best bowler in this series Matthew Hoggard.

The only other way England could get something here is if Australia focus too much on the retiring greats and forget about the match. Seems unlikely though. Dave Tickner