England cut to win at The Gabba after Broad’s Ashes brilliance

A ‘Broad Ban’ imposed on England’s 27-year-old all-rounder by Aussie rag The Courier Mail clearly doesn’t apply to wicket taking at The Gabba in Brisbane.

Stuart Broad’s dismissal of Mitchell Johnson for 64 left the Nottinghamshire right-hander with figures of 5-65, with Australia battling back after a troubling start to finish day one on 273-8.

England are now 11/8 to win the match and will feel they have the measure of the Aussie top order once again, after none of the first six Baggy Green batsmen managed to reach 50 runs.

Broad took the wickets of opening batsman Chris Rodgers and captain Michael Clarke for just one run each, with Ian Bell taking both catches at gully and short leg respectively.

Brad Haddin finished the day on an unbeaten 78 and Ryan Harris hit four runs from 11 balls and is favourite at 4/6 to be the next man out, with Australia’s wicket keeper priced up at 11/8 to go sooner.    

The Baggy Green were looking desperate on 132-6, before Barmy Army figure of fun Johnson came in and put on a seventh-wicket partnership of 114 with Haddin.

Australia are 5/6 to squeak another 41 runs from their last two wickets and finish the innings with over 313.5 and the same price is available about them not reaching that tally.

England will bat at some stage on day two and captain Alastair Cook is the 3/1 favourite to lead the charge with his country’s highest first-innings tally.

At a more attractive price, get on Joe Root to outscore his compatriots this time round at 13/2.

The 22-year-old Yorkshireman has something to prove, after losing his opening spot to Michael Carberry, but Root hit Australia for 180 just four months ago at Lords.

The part-time spinner was only behind Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen in runs scored over the summer and can benefit from lower expectations at number six Down Under.