KP itching to make impact

SPORTS AND SHOWBIZ BETTING: THE opening Ashes Test in Brisbane may have fizzled out into a tame draw, but there is no doubt where the momentum lies.

England go into tomorrow's second Test in Adelaide as the stronger, more settled team.

Two batsmen (Strauss and Trott) have centuries under their belt, one (Cook) a double hundred. Others will surely be inspired to follow suit.

Admittedly, there is a slight concern over spinner Graeme Swann's form, but he had a poor Ashes opener in Cardiff in 2009 and bounced back to have a big impact on the series. Big-time players usually find a way to get the job done.

As for the Aussies, they look a team in disarray – or at least they do on the bowling front.

The much-hyped Mitchell Johnson could not hit a barn door at ten paces, while I spin the ball more than Xavier Doherty and Ben Hilfenhaus looks ordinary when the Kookaburra ball stops swinging.

Peter Siddle's hat-trick confirmed what I suspected. He looks Australia's most persistent and dangerous bowler and it would not be surprising were he to be joined in the second Test line-up by Ryan Harris, who has a bit more devil about him than Doug Bollinger.

Johnson looks in serious danger of being dropped after no wickets, no runs and a dropped catch in Brisbane.

England's fightback on days four and five has prompted the bookies to slash their odds for the series to 6-4.

A year ago, they were 9-2 and on the eve of the trip Down Under they were available at 11-4. In fact, both sides are 6-4 to win the series, with the draw at 4-1.

As for the second Test, everything points to another draw (evens) given the placid nature of the Adelaide pitch and the domination of batsmen on both sides in Brisbane. Australia are 13-5 to win, with England 3-1.

Kevin Pietersen showed glimpses of his best before getting out and will be determined to get some big runs of his own following the success of his team-mates.

I reckon KP is more of a team player than he is given credit for, but he does love the limelight and I have no doubt he will be determined to get a big score in this game.

He can be backed at 9-2 to be England's top run scorer at a ground on which he hit 158 three years ago.

Ricky Ponting looked to be returning to top form in his 41-ball unbeaten 51 in Australia's second innings and, despite the pressure on him as an under-achieving captain, is likely to be among the runs in Adelaide. He looks worth support at 4-1 to be top Aussie batsman.



RECOMMENDATIONS: Kevin Pietersen to be top England batsman in second Test, 9-2 (totesport); Ricky Ponting to be top Australia batsman, 7-2 (general).


ENGLAND'S 2018 World Cup bid seems to be gathering momentum and our fate will be known tomorrow when the decision is announced.
Russia remain 8-11 favourites, but England are at 11-4, with Portugal and Spain 7-2.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's stuttering form in the Premier League has seen their odds for the title drift to 13-8.

Manchester United put seven goals past Blackburn on Saturday and are clearly in the ascendancy, despite last night’s blip at West Ham. The Reds can still be backed at 15-8, with neighbours City down to 12-1 and Arsenal – brilliant one minute, a shambles the next – on 9-2.

Athletic have drawn their last two games following three wins in a row, but are sitting in the play-off places and have been cut from 12-1 to 10s for promotion from npower League One. There are worse bets.



TELEVISION'S three votathons are well advanced and bookmakers reckon the two Matts are heading for a gloss finish. Matt Baker of Countryfile and One Show fame is the 5-4 favourite to win the Strictly Come Dancing glitter ball, while Matt Cardle is a best-priced 8-11 for X Factor glory.

At least those two shows are about talent, which is more than can be said of the dreadful I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here for which Stacey Solomon is the 1-6 favourite to be Queen Of The Jungle. They should keep her and the rest of them in there.


CHAMPION jumps jockey Tony McCoy is the 10-11 favourite to become BBC Sports personality Of the Year following the unveiling of the 10 nominees.
Ryder Cup golf hero Graeme McDowell is second favourite at 11-2 with darts phenomenon Phil Taylor 7-1, world number one golfer Lee Westwood at 16s and heptathlon queen Jessica Ennis at 18s.

Diving superstar Tom Daley and Winter Olympics gold medal winner Amy Williams are 25-1, England spin bowler Graeme Swan is 40-1 and world heavyweight boxing champion David Haye a rather insulting 66-1. Mark Cavendish, a multiple stage winner in the Tour De France, is the 80-1 outsider.