SPORTS BETTING : Australia to pass this Test at 6-5

Australia look good at 6-5 with William Hill to beat England (11-4, the draw is 6-4) in the fourth Test which starts at Headingley on Thursday. The men from Down Under did not really look up for it when they first arrived in the spring. And, following a winter throughout which it was generally accepted that England were in for a hammering, three one-day successes and a nine- wicket victory in the first Test, false dawn prophets were temporarily in vogue.

Confirmation that Atherton's men are still deep in the big sleep came when, after only the weather deprived them in the second Test, Australia romped away with the third at Old Trafford by 265 runs. And, in their recent Tour game with Glamorgan, Australia's gave further evidence of their renewed confidence by taking batting order experimentation to a point where the County Championship leaders could hardly be blamed for accusing their opponents of urine acquisition. Headingley is notable for producing results and, if the weather does not intervene, the visitors should have the last laugh.

Manchester United remain 5-4 favourites to retain their Premiership title with Ladbrokes who then go: 7-2 Newcastle, 4-1 Liverpool and 9-2 Arsenal. However, home counties punters wishing to avail themselves of better prices and avoid paying nine per cent tax to boot, could do worse than go horseracing and seek out boards bookmaker Rod Sapphire, who has been betting 6-4 Manchester United, 4-1 Newcastle, Liverpool, 5-1 Arsenal between races of late.

FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP

Team William Hill Ladbrokes

Manchester United 6-4 5-4

Newcastle 7-2 7-2

Liverpool 4-1 4-1

Arsenal 9-2 9-2

Chelsea 11-1 12-1

Aston Villa 20-1 18-1

Tottenham 33-1 33-1

Blackburn 50-1 66-1

Everton 66-1 50-1

Leeds 50-1 80-1

Sheffield Wednesday 50-1 100-1

Wimbledon 100-1 150-1

Bolton 150-1 200-1

West Ham 200-1 200-1

Coventry 250-1 200-1

Derby 250-1 250-1

Leicester 250-1 200-1

Southampton 250-1 250-1

Crystal Palace 250-1 350-1

Barnsley 1,000-1 500-1

Each-way a quarter the odds, places 1, 2, 3