Don't bank on England, say bookies

London, August 15: It's not a question of if, more a question of when England will lose the fourth Ashes Test, according to the bookies.

For the first time, British bookmaker William Hill are taking bets on how long a Test match will last before England meet Australia at Headingley from Thursday.

Fans, disheartened by England's 3-0 battering already this summer, can get odds of 500-1 on Hussain's side losing to Australia by the end of the first day.

The more optimistic cricketing enthusiasts could place a 5-4 wager that England will soldier on until day five.

The first two clashes of the series at Edgbaston and Lords both ended on day four. But England, who have lost their last 10 international matches, collapsed to a third day defeat in the third encounter at Trent Bridge.

A word of warning, though. In 1981, at the same venue, England were rated 500-1 to win halfway through before Ian Botham and Bob Willis took them to a memorable victory over Australia which changed the series.