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Live Commentary: ICC Champions Trophy, Group A: England vs. Australia - as it happened

England took on Australia at Edgbaston in the first match in Group A of the ICC Champions Trophy and won by 48 runs.
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The opening game in Group A of the ICC Champions Trophy saw England beat Ashes rivals Australia by 48 runs.

England's innings started well, with Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott guiding them to 168-1, but a flurry of wickets made their final total of 269-6 look below par.

However, England's bowling was perfect when they took to the field and Australia were never ahead. They were always chasing until finally running out of overs as they finished short on 221-9.

Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary.


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Hello everyone and thanks for joining me for today's Champions Trophy action. So the England vs. Australia battle begins. They'll be facing each other for the best part of the next year in various series. This one, though, is the Champions Trophy and is so much more than an Ashes warm-up game.

BREAKING: England win the toss and Alastair Cook has chosen to bat first. Cook also reveals that there is no Graeme Swann or Steven Finn today.

Australia stand-in captain George Bailey confirms that he would also have batted first as it looks like a fantastic wicket in his opinion. First blood, England.

Now a quick look at the official teams for today...

ENGLAND XI: Cook*, Bell, Trott, Root, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler†, Bresnan, Broad, Tredwell, Anderson

AUSTRALIA XI: Warner, Watson, Hughes, Bailey*, Voges, Marsh, Wade†, Faulkner, Johnson, Starc, McKay

Swann is out with a back injury sustained in a recent practice session, with James Tredwell coming in for him in a like-for-like swap. Finn is not injured, so has been dropped on account of his form. In his place is Tim Bresnan, perhaps to shore up the batting order a touch.

Speaking of injuries, here is what vice captain George Bailey said to Sky Sports News about Clarke's chances of recovering quickly: "He's staying in London for a couple more days to get his back sorted, but hopefully he'll be alright for game two."

In ODI tournaments, it's so important to get off to a good start and that's what both sides will be aware of. Of course, they can't both get a good start and on paper you would probably favour England today. It's not played on paper, though, and looking at the pitch I think big scores will be targeted today.

We saw in Group B that South Africa's thrashing by India and Pakistan's defeat to the West Indies has given both those sides a lot of work to do in their remaining two games. England, of course, come into this game on the back of a disappointing series defeat to New Zealand and simply must play better - particularly with the bat.

The players are out and it's time for the anthems before we get underway. Almost time for what should be a real battle today.

The first few overs could be very important here. If the Aussies can get a couple of early wickets it'll really be game on. However, if Cook and Ian Bell can get themselves in it could be a long day in the field for the visitors.

Mitchell Starc gets the ball and immediately Cook is off the mark, tucking away a straight half-volley off his pads to the rope for four. A couple of balls later a similar delivery is clipped away, but this time just for one to get Bell on strike. Bell cannot work any runs from his three balls, but it's a decent start for England with that Cook four.

he other left-handed Mitchell - Mitchell Johnson - takes the ball from the other end. He bowls perhaps a little straight to begin with, but his length is full and difficult for Cook to score off. After five dot balls Cook finally cuts for one, which ensures a good start with the ball from Johnson.

Chaos! First there's a no-ball, which Cook edges. Then as they're running Warner throws to the wrong end, otherwise Cook would have been out. After that the ball goes for overthrows so they run two - three from it overall, with a free hit to come. Cook goes down the ground from it but doesn't time it and they run just the two. The following ball he edges, but wide of slips for a single. Bell finally gets off the mark with a lovely cover drive to the rope. Overall, that's an expensive over but it could have been good for the Aussies had the throw gone to the bowler's end.

Johnson continues and a couple of deliveries beg Cook back before the skipper clips off his pads for two. He then gets off strike with a single. Another follows for Bell and it's a strong start for England's openers.

Clint McKay is into the attack in place of Starc and he opens with a wide. Bell gets a couple before notching his second four of the innings, driving a slightly overpitched one to the extra cover fence. He then edges the final ball, but it doesn't carry to second slip.

There's no change at the other end as Johnson carries on. Cook cuts him first ball, but only picks out the fielder at point. A couple of balls later he clips to leg, but Faulkner fields brilliantly diving to his right to save a couple. He pinches a single to give Johnson one go at Bell, but the opener blocks firmly.

Cook gets an early single to leg side on the first ball of McKay's next over and Bell finds a gap in the covers but can only get one as Warner closes it down quickly. Then there's meat and drink for Cook as McKay floats a full one right on to the half-volley of Cook, who makes no mistake finding the boundary.

Bell gets off strike early in Johnson's next over with a leg bye, trying to clip off his pads. Then Cook grabs another four, again dispatching one that's just too full - he'll push those to the boundary every time. Johnson adjusts and goes straighter, which allows Cook to clip away for a single. Bell gets one by defending a short one up and into the gap, with Cook finishing the over with a couple.

It's better bowling now from McKay. Bell gets a thick edge on an attempted cut but it's safe and they run one. Cook has to replace his bat after an attempted drive - that'll be a shame for him, he had 28 off 32 from the old one. He tries to cut away a shorter one but Warner again makes a fine stop diving to his right and saves probably four. Just one from the over.

That's a brilliant shot from Ian Bell to bring up England's 50. It's a nice welcome into the attack for Shane Watson, who sees his first delivery smashed down the ground back past him for four. The batsmen run a quick single with a push from Bell to mid-on. Cook follows up with one of his own from a controlled thick edge and Bell squeezes an attempted yorker to the off side for two. That's the end of the mandatory power play.

Quick single for Cook off McKay's next over and Bell follows it up the following ball with one of his own. After that it's a very disciplined over from McKay, with just two from it in the end.

WICKET! Cook (30) c Wade b Watson

Cook, who looked far less confident with his new bat, goes after one that's pitched in at a great line and length. He plays across the line and gets an edge to Wade behind. Jonathan Trott the new batsman in.

Trott sees off his first two deliveries comfortably, but suddenly this looks a lot better for the Aussies.

Bell gets a single off the first ball of McKay's next over and Trott is off the mark a couple of deliveries later, controlling a short one into the leg side. He's already been warned for walking on the pitch, has the new man.

The run rate has slowed right down in the last five or so overs. The introduction of Trott hasn't helped, of course. Just three from Watson's latest over.

Bell and Trott exchange singles - the second accompanied with a very loud "NO" from the former as Trott looked for the second. Bell then has a swing and puts it slightly in the air but it's safe and they run two. Just two from nine so far from Trott. England are ticking along but they will need to up the pace before too long.

Bell defends the first ball after drinks and goes for it with the second, but it's stopped well at mid-off. He then pulls for a single, with Trott following suit following a clip off his hips. Bell then goes slightly airborne trying to drive, but it's short of mid-on. Just two from the over as Bell defends the final ball. It's almost Test match pace batting now.

Starc is back in and Trott finally loosens his shoulders with a push across his body racing away to the boundary. He didn't swing at it at all, but it came off the middle and flew. Starc follows up with one of his short balls, and it's just the one scoring shot from the over.

James Faulkner now comes in for a bowl and his first delivery is full and wide, but Bell cannot time his drive properly and picks up a single. Trott then plays late to clip past the slips for another single and they run a swift two leg byes a couple of balls later. Bell plays neatly into a gap in the leg side and the wicketkeeper Wade is chasing everything in the field - perhaps he's getting bored. Six from Faulkner's first over.

Nice shot from Trott, who got down on his knees to drive through the covers, but there's a man at deep extra cover so it's only a single. Bell places a shorter ball into the off side for a single - it had no zip off the surface then, so Bell had to delay his shot a touch. Trott gets another single to backward point, as does Bell to cover.

The pace is still very slow from the men in the middle. Bell picks up two and Trott one from Faulkner's second over and the run rate is down below 4.5 now. It was above six earlier in the innings.

Adam Voges is now into the attack. Trott watches a couple of deliveries before bringing out the sweep and getting a single. Bell wastes no time going after Voges and immediately looks for the cover boundary, but has to settle for two.

A much-needed boundary there for England as Bell pulls a shorter one from Faulker from outside off stump to the mid-wicket boundary. He moves on to 47 with that and he gets 48 by cutting late to third man.

FIFTY FOR BELL: Bell gets pinned back slightly by Voges, before finally squeezing one through the covers to get off strike. Trott then runs a casual single with a poke to the leg side and bell brings up his half-century with a push to mid-off, which simultaneously brings up the England 100.

Trott gets a couple with a square drive, but there's not enough on it to reach the rope. Either side of that Bell earns a couple of singles, the second a nice push back past the bowler.

England are finally starting to pick up the pace. Bell gets a couple off the first ball of Voges's next over, and a series of singles follow before Bell misses out on a full toss off the final ball and is only able to pick out a fielder.

Johnson comes back in to bowl and there's still no real urgency for England to hit boundaries. I suppose they'll hammer the last 20 overs, but I'm not sure that's the right way to approach an ODI. It seems too defensive to me. Just four singles from the over; the run rate is at 4.42.

It's still Watson at the other end, who has been very economical so far and has the only wicket. England are still trading in singles, as both batsmen get one each to start the over with Bell finishing it off with another to the off side.

A good shot from Bell there as Johnson starts his over with a wide and full delivery that is sent packing by the Warwickshire man. However, he cannot follow it up as three dot balls come before he gets off strike with a single.

Bell looks to play late down the leg side but it glances off his pads instead for two leg byes. He then chops late down to third man for a single, before doing the same later in the over - this time it's very fine and beats the man trying to come round the boundary. A single finishes the over and with nine from it that's much more like what's required.

Johnson comes in again, pitches it short, and Bell wildly swings at it. He gets a top edge and it's well clear of the keeper and away for four - unfortunate for Johnson as he beat Bell there. The opener then mistimes one into the leg side but gets away with a single. Trott rotates the strike with a push to cover point and Bell sends him back with a pull that is cut off at mid-wicket. A fine cut from Trott to the leg side almost gets England in trouble as they come back for a second and with a slightly more accurate throw from Johnson they could have been in trouble. Another quick run and it's 10 from the over. It's creeping up now the run rate.

The third Mitchell - Mitchell Marsh - comes in for a bowl. Wade gets in a mess trying to catch the ball and ends up tripping over Trott's bat. There's a bit of sledging between the two of them but the handbags are away and we'll continue. There are a few singles, a wide, and finally Bell equals his highest ODI score here with a single. He's on 79.

Bell brings up his highest ODI score here with a single from first ball of Starc's next over. At the same time England reach 150. Trott drives a wide delivery but he cannot find the boundary as a fielder is across well to save two. There is what looks like a really good short ball from Starc and it's given a wide - a little harsh, that. Trott pulls, slightly in the air, but safe into the gap around backward square leg for two and they run a very swift couple with a flick off his pads with the final ball. Good running.

Marsh continues and starts with a wide before Bell claims a single with a drive through the covers. Trott toe-ends into a gap on leg side to run one, with three more coming from the over as the score continues to tick over. With the run rate as it is, though, England's score will be below-par in 17 overs' time.

WICKET! Trott (43) c Wade b Starc

Bell gets a single, before Trott claims a couple to the off side through the covers. Another two follow with a pull this time to leg side and he's starting to move through the gears... until he's gone! He swings wildly outside off stump and gets a touch through to the keeper. That's the danger of this slow run rate - suddenly number four is in and he needs to score quickly. Fortunately, that man is Joe Root who can score more quickly than most.

There's almost immediate trouble for Root who would be out if the throw from Bell's suicidal single is on target. He survives, though.

Again the run rate has slowed down, as so often happens when wickets fall. Watson comes back into the attack and just three come from his over as Bell moves ever closer to his maiden Edgbaston century. He's 14 away. Batting powerplay time.

Root is straight into his usual tricks. He pre-empts Starc's delivery and moves across his stumps - the bowler tries pitching it short but Root clips it over his head and to the rope for four. Really good stuff.

The two batsmen keep the score ticking over with a single off each ball. The field is just not allowing for boundaries at the moment, but the run rate has snuck above five for the first time since early on.

WICKET! Bell (91) b Faulkner

Root earns three following a bit of confusion in the field at fine leg, but Bell will now be wishing they didn't get that extra run as he's gone next ball. Faulkner gets one right through the gate into middle and off and Bell's fine innings comes to an end just short of his ton. England are in a bit of trouble with a little over 12 overs left. Eoin Morgan in now - so two big hitters at the crease.

Just those three Root runs from the over. What can these two do to get England's runs up?

WICKET! Root (12) c Bailey b McKay

Now they're in trouble. Root prods a ball from McKay in the air and Bailey can take an easy catch at mid-wicket.

Ravi Bopara is the new batsman in and he gets off the mark with a single. That's the only run from a very good McKay over.

England are upping the intensity and it's Bopara with most of it. He turns a single to the off side into two with a very early decision to come back for the second. The bail falls off when Bopara blocks a shot and the third umpire puts the wrong decision on the screen! It's corrected, to the delight of the England fans.

Morgan pinches a single to the gully area and Bopara gets one of his own, waiting to play late down the off side past the wicketkeeper. Just three from the over. Australia were set until 2pm to bowl their 50 overs - they have 17 minutes to bowl another nine. That's not likely.

Morgan works a full toss to the leg side and gets a couple. Some extras and singles finish the over but there's a review for the last delivery - it looked to be pitching outside as it hit Bopara's pads and that's what the review says. Terrible review.

WICKET! Morgan (8) b McKay

Finally a four for England; it's a full delivery and Bopara dispatches it to the boundary with just one bounce. However, later in the over Morgan gets down to sweep but is clean bowled by McKay.

Jos Buttler comes in and gets off the mark straight away with a single. England are still well below par here.

WICKET! Buttler (1) b Faulkner

Buttler's arms are all wrong there as he gets a thick inside edge on to his pads and then on to the stumps. England are out of batsmen now to get to the expected 300. Bresnan is in now.

Just two come from the over - one each for Bresnan and Bopara. England's rate is 4.89 and they might not even make 250 here with six overs to go.

England still trading in singles and boundaries are very hard to come by. Five overs left for something to happen.

This is a bit better from England, with Bopara clipping away a straight one off his pads. Faulkner goes for nine in the end with Bopara helping himself to another two later in the over.

Starc comes back into the attack and Bresnan immediately gets stuck in with two early fours in the over - the second somewhat sliced past third man. But there's finally some hitting from England, with 12 in total off the over.

Bopara and Bresnan exchange singles, before the former pinches two to the leg side. A quick single follows, but it's good bowling from Faulkner, who's pitching it right up and Bopara can't get enough on his shots. Two overs to go.

Bresnan gets a couple from each of the first two balls of Starc's next over, before handing the striker over on the next ball. Then six! Bopara gets England's first of the innings with a fine strike down the ground - a lovely shot. He follows up with two more to bring 13 from the over.

Bopara goes in the air but doesn't get enough on it - however the fielder is not around quickly enough and it lands safe. A few singles come from the over, as well as a wide, with Bopara clubbing another four down the ground - this is a great knock from him. He finishes with a single and England finish on 269-6.

It's possibly slightly below-par. It's a good total, and it's defensible, but it's quite possible for Australia to win this. I'm taking a break so please do join me in about 25 minutes for Australia's innings.

Hello everyone and welcome back. Warner and Shane Watson are out there, ready to face Jimmy Anderson.

Anderson starts by bowling quite full, with Warner leaving them well along. He punches one into the off side for two, though, to get him and his team off the mark.

Stuart Broad comes in at the other end and he too gets into a good line and length. One strays slightly straight, which allows Watson to clip away off his pads for two to get himself off the mark. Off the final ball they run a quick single with a block to mid-on.

Australia's slow but steady start continues. Three singles and a leg bye come from Anderson's next over, and he's started very tight here - not easy to hit boundaries when he bowls like that. It's just the start England wanted, but a wicket would make it ideal.

Perhaps they'll get more joy from Broad. A semi-short one is a gift for Warner, who clips it away off his hip and Trott cannot reach it coming round from long leg. Warner tries again but this time Trott has been brought forward and he cuts it nicely. A final single finishes the over.

It's a single each for Watson and Warner in Anderson's next over. They're half way into their first powerplay and the run rate is right down. So far, so good for England.

WICKET! Warner (9) c Buttler b Broad

Broad gets another go with the ball and he's got a much better line this over. He's pitching it slightly up to Warner, which is tempting the opener into some shots, but he can't get hold of them just yet. He gets his reward! It's that same line and Warner swipes at it but can only edge to Buttler, who takes an acrobatic catch. Great stuff from Broad.

The new batsman Hughes sees out the final ball of an excellent Broad over.

Watson plays a length ball quite late, pushing it past the slips for a couple of runs and then plays a similar shot off the last ball, but this time for just a single. Again it's good bowling from Anderson.

I said Australia's review earlier for LBW was bad - that is even worse from Broad. Cook should not have listened to his bowler - Watson clearly hit the ball into the ground before Broad caught it. Then there's almost a catch from Cook, with Watson edging between slip and keeper and Cook touches it for four. Watson is almost run out too! Terrible running. But good batting from Hughes, as he strikes a sublime cover drive to the rope.

Now the Aussies are starting to pick up the pace. Watson and Hughes rotate the strike, before the latter's cover drive is stopped just short of the rope for three. Six from it in the end and that's Anderson's most expensive over so far.

Really fine stop from Morgan, who sprung to his left to save what could well have been for runs from a Hughes cut. In the end they can't get a run and that maiden from Broad could prove very useful at the closing stages of this one.

Bresnan comes into the attack for Anderson. Hughes gets two and Watson sends him back with a single, before a big four from Hughes. He rocks back and drives powerfully through extra cover - no need to run, that was four all the way.

Here comes some spin. James Tredwell comes in for Anderson. The batsmen get in a bit of a pickle again, but Watson is safe after being sent back by his teammate. Two come from the final ball in a good Tredwell over.

Bresnan continues to trouble Hughes with some varying length bowling. Cook gets a glimmer of a chance with a catch at gully from an edge, but it would have had to be a quite sensational bit of work for him to hang on. There's an outside edge from Watson to end the over, and still the run rate is low. At this point England were 60-1, which was about the start of their slow period.

It's really good, disciplined bowling from Tredwell. Hughes has a couple of opportunities to score but a combination of good fielding and pressure sees Tredwell come away with a maiden over. The required rate is up to 6.19 just now.

WICKET! Watson (24) LBW b Bresnan

More brilliant fielding, this time from Cook. Watson tries a late cut but Cook dives to his right to save at least two. Then Watson is gone! It's been given LBW, but there was an inside edge. Either way, Cook took the catch so he's definitely out. That will be changed to a catch from Cook, which he has deserved with his fielding so far.

George Bailey is in a bit of trouble facing his first ball from Bresnan! He's caught on the pad, but it was bouncing and going several inches over the stumps. Then somehow the ball goes through the gate and misses the stumps! What an over from Bresnan.

There's a run for Hughes and a couple for Bailey there - he's finally got off the mark after facing a fiery Bresnan. Just three from Tredwell's over, and that's just five overall from his three so far. Great bowling.

Perhaps the score from England was ok, because Australia are struggling massively for runs. There's a wide off a rare loose delivery from Bresnan before Hughes clips one away leg side for one of his own. Bailey ends the over with a single and it's time for drinks.

It's another fine over from Tredwell, with just three from it again. Just the one delivery was a little off line, which Hughes clipped away fine for two. Otherwise, scoring off bowling like that is very tough. The required run rate is 6.69 now.

Bailey guides a full ball through the gully region and picks up a single for his troubles. Hughes sends him back on strike with a clipped single off his pads. There's finally some intent from Australia, as Bailey guides a shot into the off side for two runs.

Joe Root comes into the attack, perhaps to tempt the Australians into some shots? It almost works, as Hughes's shot drops just short of the fielder on the last ball, and he picks up a single.

Two part-time bowlers, then, as Bopara is handed the ball at the other end. Hughes and Bailey exchange singles from the first two balls and they get another couple each later in the over. Four from Bopara's over, and Cook couldn't ask for much more than that from him.

It's a little bit better from Australia, with three singles and a brace coming from Root's over, but they really need boundaries. Even with five from the over they're under the required run rate.

Right on cue, there is a boundary. Bailey has decided to go after Bopara and he clips the ball behind square leg and flashes it to the rope. Then Hughes goes down the ground, dropping it just short of the boundary with one bounce for four. That's a good over for the visitors, with 13 off it.

Despite the treatment that Bopara got in the last over, Cook gives Root another go. He is very handy with it is the youngster as just five singles come from the over.

The big guns come back in to the attack then, as Broad is handed the ball. It's a good over from him and he nearly gets his reward as Hughes slashes at the final ball, but there's no edge. Australia are half way through their innings and they have to up the pace.

WICKET! Hughes (30) LBW b Root

Root carries on - and why not, he's done nothing wrong so far. Bailey pulls out the reverse sweep and then Root gets away with one that's pitched far too short - Morgan with a good stop at backward point. That's why he's continued then; Root catches Hughes in front and is walking. No review as it was plumb. Big wicket for England.

Adam Voges is the new batsman and he's off the mark straight away with a single. Three runs and a wicket from the over; great stuff from Root.

It's Broad to continue and Australia are still forced to trade mainly in singles. Just three of them off the over and the required rate is now 7.43 an over. That simply has to come down soon or this will get away from the visitors.

Australia's 100 finally comes up with Bailey pinching a single from Root. Voges gets one of his own, with some quick throwing from Broad on the boundary stopping the second. Another over sails by and this one has just four singles - just not enough for the Aussies.

Anderson comes back into the attack in place of Broad, who was bowling well. Voges then Bailey get a single each, but the runs are not easy to come by. There's nothing short, too full, or wide from Anderson as just two come from his return to the attack - the final delivery fizzing past Voges's bat.

Tredwell comes back in to bowl. Bailey is alert to run two with a nudge into a gap at square leg and follows it up with two more from a similar shot. The skipper then goes for the reverse sweep for the third of fourth time, and this time manages to find a gap for four.

Voges tries to drive back past Anderson. The ball hits his foot and it goes into the stumps at the other end - and smashes one of them! It wasn't even half the speed of an Anderson delivery, so it seems odd that one snapped in half. When we finally get back underway Bailey is millimetres away from catching and edge from a very good Anderson ball. Just one from the over - perfect from the Burnley Express.

The visitors have decided to target the spin of Tredwell to try to claw back some of the runs required. Voges follows Bailey in trying the reverse sweep, and he too gets it to go for four. A further four come from the over; the partnership now 30 from 38.

WICKET! Voges (15) b Bresnan

With the need to pick up the run rate, Voges takes it upon himself for the big shot, but Bresnan gets one to cut in off the pitch and clatter into the stumps. Fine delivery.

Superb display of aggressive bowling from Bresnan, who gets the final ball of his over to nip just past the bat of new man in Mitchell Marsh.

Lots of short bowling spells seems to be the tactics of Cook. Broad comes back in for Tredwell and Bailey nicks an early single from the over. Marsh is being pinned back early on by the seamers, though, and he cannot get himself off the mark. Broad's bowling is so accurate at the moment; really good stuff from him. The run rate requirement is up to 8.88 now. It's getting high.

Bailey again gets off strike quickly, taking a single off Bresnan's second ball. Then Marsh is finally off the mark with a pull shot to the rope. Fifteen overs left for the Aussies.

WICKET! Marsh (5) c Morgan b Anderson

That's not a terrible shot, but when you cut hard in the air one of the few fielders you want to be behind it is Eoin Morgan. He holds on really well and Anderson, who has replaced Broad, gets a wicket. Fine captaincy and fine bowling here. The visitors are running out of batsmen as Matthew Wade, the keeper, is in next.

WICKET! Wade (1) c Buttler b Anderson

There was a long wait as the umpires reviewed it, but Wade has to walk. There was an outside edge, which hotspot confirmed, but the issue was whether it carried to Buttler, which it did just about. Faulkner is in at eight.

Bresnan continues and flicks off his pads for a couple of runs off the first ball. Just four from the over from Bresnan and the rate is still right down at Test match level - 3.20.

Back in comes Tredwell, despite Anderson's heroics last time. That is dreadful fielding from sub Jonny Bairstow - he doesn't move in time to stop the single, and then his shy at the stumps goes all the way for four! Five from that one ball. After that the batsmen keep the strike rotating and then there's another silly review - from the umpires this time. Buttler tried a stumping but Faulkner's foot didn't move from his crease.

WICKET! Bailey (55) c Root b Tredwell

More good bowling from Tredwell, who is accurate. His reward? Their captain. Bailey tries to go down the ground but doesn't get enough on it, so Root comes around from mid-on to take the catch.

There's another lengthy review here, as Buttler whips off the bails leaning over the stumps. Is Johnson, the new batsman, out there? His bat is slightly in the air...

Johnson survives! I suppose there just wasn't quite enough conclusive proof that he hadn't made the ground. Just about fair, that. Now he finally comes in to face a ball and gets off strike with a push to extra cover.

Bopara continues at the other end and he goes up for an appeal on Johnson, but it was down leg side. Faulkner guides a block to the leg side for a single as they keep the score ticking over. A nice shot from Johnson brings him two and then gets three after a nice stop on the boundary from Anderson. Nine from the over though; they need 107 from 54.

Tredwell carries on and he's immediately smacked for six by Faulkner, with a swipe over mid-wicket. Now the rate is picking up and they'll need a few more of those 10-run overs.

WICKET! Johnson (8) c Morgan b Bopara

The writing is on the wall for Australia here. Bopara tosses one quite full, but just low enough and Johnson smacks it into the air right into the arms of Morgan.

What a waste of time! Another umpire review as Faulkner hits the ball into the ground. Bopara catches it but the umpires want to see it closer.

I think Australia might well have given up the chase. Tredwell continues with his final over and Starc picks up a couple with a batsman's shot to the leg side. Six left and the required rate is 14.33. Tredwell has bowled very well.

WICKET! Starc (5) b Anderson

Anderson comes in for his penultimate over and Faulkner clips him away nicely down the leg side for four. He then scampers for a single after picking out Bopara in the field. Anderson has had enough of that - he gets one through Starc's gate and crashes the ball into the middle stump. What will come first, five more overs or the final Australian wicket?

New man McKay edges the final ball, but it's safely clear of the slips and he picks up a single.

Broad takes over from Tredwell and the visitors can muster just three runs from it. They have four overs to get the 76 required to win. Stranger things have happened, but you'd be a fool to bet against England now.

McKay gets a single off Anderson's next over with a push to long-on from outside off stump. He's back on strike a ball later following a leg bye, and it's just those two from Anderson's final over. Three wickets for 30 - just brilliant figures.

Faulkner flicks the ball to short leg for a single and a couple of balls later McKay guides it to third man for one of his own. Will they make it to 200? Faulkner has played well, in fairness, and has 36 from 34.

Faulkner takes a single down the ground to bring up the 200. It's only taken them 56 balls to get to their fourth 50. Very nice shot there from Faulkner, latching on to one pitched down leg side from Broad and clipping it for four.

Bresnan steams in and bowls a full toss at Faulkner, who does well to guide it away for four. He then moves on to 51 from 38 with a fine four slogged to the extra cover boundary. The then tries the Root shot over Buttler, but doesn't make contact.

ENGLAND WIN BY 48 RUNS

So, England take a somewhat comfortable win and have first blood in the Ashes summer. They take the early initiative in Group A.

Thanks for joining me for this one, and be sure to come back tomorrow as our coverage of the Champions Trophy continues.

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Alastair Cook
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