"It was quite intriguing because Michael Kasprowicz has never
disappointed each time he's played in London - I would have thought
was a more-than-able replacement.

"But (punters) just went stone cold on the Aussies. They just
dropped right off backing them.

"I wouldn't think there would be too many sides unhappy about
lining up with Lee, Gillespie, Kasprowicz and Warne, yet when
McGrath went off that was it, nobody wanted to touch them."

Centrebet caught wind of McGrath's injury only moments after it
happened, and adjusted its odds accordingly before savvy clients
had a chance to jump on the pre-injury prices.

However one Sydney punter, on hearing of McGrath's absence from
the Australian pace attack, still plonked $10,000 at $4 on England
to win the Test.

But the biggest reverberations were in the prices for the
leading wicket-taker for the series, with McGrath a short-priced
$2.50 before his injury.

"The most impact was on the most wickets for the series, that
was the key factor," Daffy said.

"(McGrath) was at $2.50 because he had such a commanding lead,
but if you get wind of the fact he's gone, even for one Test let
alone the rest of the series, it means everyone else is four times
the price they should be.

"(Leading wicket-taker betting) closes once the Test starts but
(Warne) got four so he will be a mile in front (when betting
reopens)."

McGrath has also ruled himself out of playing in next
week's third Test against England because of the injury but said he
was hopeful at playing in the fourth test.

"To be optimistic, I'm confident that I can hopefully be right
for Trent Bridge - that's what I'm aiming for," he said.