2nd Test - English collapse sparks betting frenzy on Betfair

Shane Warne sparked a phenomenal day of trading activity on Betfair as he spun through England's top order and set-up an unlikely Australian victory. Beginning the day needing to bowl England out and chase down a total, Australia was backed as high as 49-1 to win the Test. The draw had been heavily supported throughout the Test and backed into as low as 1-50 (punters willing to risk £1,000 to win £20) early on the final day. But just as the draw seemed the only likely outcome, Warne weaved his magic and inspired an England collapse. When Pietersen followed the quick wickets of Bell and Strauss, Australia's price plummeted to 9-2 and a dramatic win all of a sudden looked on the cards. When Giles was snaffled by Hayden off Warne, Australia assumed favouritism for the first time in the Test since the opening day. Australia went odds-on and the draw drifted to even money. From there Australia took control of the match and rarely drifted out of the red, such was the confidence of the Betfair punters. When Hussey edged Flintoff to third man to put Australia within 17 runs of the England total, Betfair punters refused to offer a price on Australia. In a frenzied day of betting on the world's leading exchange, more than 300,000 bets were matched. Australia are now 1-50 to win the series. A detailed account of how the betting activity unfolded on Betfair can be found below. Start of play Australia 16-1England 94-1Draw 1-14 Australia touch a high of 49-1 as Strauss and Bell make a steady start. England pushed out to 329-1 as the draw is backed heavily at 1-50. After the wicket of StraussAustralia 23-1England 359-1Draw 1-25 After the fall of Bell Australia 14-1England 99-1Draw 1-5 After the fall of PietersenAustralia 9-2England 99-1Draw 2-9 After the fall of FlintoffAustralia 13-8England 59-1Draw 8-13 After the wicket of JonesAustralia 11-10England 44-1Draw Evs After the wicket of Giles, Australia assumed favouritism for the first time since the opening day's play. Australia 10-11England 43-1Draw Evs After the wicket of Hoggard Australia 8-11England 47-1Draw 11-8 The draw swings back to favouritism as Collingwood and Harmison dig in. After the wicket of Harmison Australia 8-11England 41-1Draw 6-5 Australia momentarily drift to 5-2, The draw into 4-11 and Eng out to 64-1 After the Anderson wicket Australia 10-11England 43-1Draw 11-10 Play resumes Australia 8-13England 43-1Draw 6-4 Australia into 2-7 after a positive start to the run chase, the draw out to 4-1 After Langer wicket Australia 1-2England 35-1Draw 2-1 After Hayden wicketAustralia 8-15England 26-1Draw 2-1 Australia into 1-100 as Hussey and Ponting mount a solid partnership. Draw out to 89-1 After Ponting wicketAustralia 1-25England 129-1Draw 19-1 After Martyn wicketAustralia 1-8England 39-1Draw 10-1 Australia became unbackable on Betfair when Hussey edged to 3rd man to leave Australia needing only 17 runs.