Player of the Match
Player of the Match

10.25pm So, that sums things up from the first ODI. Have a read of Dan Brettig's match report before you go, and we'll see you at the Gabba for Match 2 out of 5 in what promises to be a high-octane ODI series.

10.20pm Time for some presentations. First up, Australia's skipper. "He didn't give us a chance, and he chanced his arm," says Steve Smith of an awesome Jason Roy innings. "They got off to an absolute flyer and we couldn't pull them back."

Unsurprisingly, Jason Roy is man of the match. "Incredibly special, I don't have too many words right now. Halesy was pretty disappointed [to lose his England ODI highest score]. It had been a tough season last season, so to be selected was incredibly special.

"I was so happy, first time here, what an incredlble place," he says of the MCG. And his hand is "okay", he says...

10.15pm Ben: "Yet again Root fails to convert. When will England selectors come to their senses? " I know... shocking... Still, a tremendous supporting hand from England's back-to-the-ranks No.4, who has reaffirmed his class across formats

"He's imposing at the crease, and what a way to start the series," says England's captain, Eoin Morgan. "It sums up the character of the bloke, coming back in."

"Australia are a strong side and will come back incredibly hard at Brisbane, but it's a nice way to start the series."

10.11pm England win with seven balls to spare on a memorable night at the MCG. A record innings, a first-ever chase of a 300-plus total by any side at Australia's grandest ground, and a vital calling-card from a one-day squad that has high expectations, and plenty of English pride to salvage

Dan: "Well, they are bottling it. Obviously they are in such a dominant position that they will win, but as an earlier commenter said, it's not a good sign for their bigger picture." That earlier commentator now accuses me of spinning his words like an American politician, but seeing as another naysayer has now endorsed his words, he clearly speaks for an unhinged demographic. Much like another American politician...

48.5
4
Head to Ali, FOUR, battered through long-on, and England win by five wickets!
48.4
0
Head to Ali, no run, a yawning mow from Mo! Lucky not to lose his poles. Careful now
48.3
1
Head to Root, 1 run, a bottom-handed bunt down to long-on, and the scores are level
48.2
1
Head to Ali, 1 run, dabbed into the gap for a single
48.1
0
Head to Ali, no run, nicely flighted, into the blockhole

END OF OVER:
48 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 302/5 (3 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.29, RRR: 1.50)

  • Joe Root90 (109b)
  • Moeen Ali0 (0b)
  • Marcus Stoinis6-0-33-1
  • Pat Cummins10-0-63-2

England need three from 12 balls, with five wickets in hand. In case you were under the impression they were bottling it...

47.6
0
Stoinis to Root, no run, drilled hard to cover. Another dot...

Well, that was a torrid innings for Buttler. He seemed to attract all of the Aussie aggression. But hard to see how it can make a difference to the final result...

47.5
W
Stoinis to Buttler, OUT, launched into the leg side for the winning runs ... but no! It's a top-edge to deep midwicket!

JC Buttler c Starc b Stoinis 4 (15m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00

47.4
1
Stoinis to Root, 1 run, outside off, dabbed into the off side for another sharp single
47.3
0
Stoinis to Root, no run, on the toes, that could have been it, but Finch at short midwicket wears the shot on his shin. Ouch

Galen: "First boundary in 52 balls"

47.2
4
Stoinis to Root, FOUR, in the arc, and tonked over the bowler to bring England to within a solitary boundary

Chris: "Here again proof why England will never be number side in any format, this game should been done by now. But No, not with England, they'll go back to the tried and true nature of the English cricketer and dink and donk alongand then all of a sudden they run rate creeps up, which in effect makes the English cricketer panic and lose his wicket and then for the supporter it's the all to familiar stressful ending yet again." Are you seriously saying that a national-record innings and a highest run-chase at the MCG isn't good enough for you? Some people...

47.1
0
Stoinis to Root, no run, cracked straight to cover

END OF OVER:
47 | 5 Runs | ENG: 297/4 (8 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.31, RRR: 2.66)

  • Jos Buttler4 (9b)
  • Joe Root85 (104b)
  • Pat Cummins10-0-63-2
  • Andrew Tye10-0-43-0
46.6
0
Cummins to Buttler, no run, short and sharp again, Australia defending this match with aggression and tenacity, but they are already several fathoms underwater

Daniel: "Roy bats at 5/6 in first class cricket. Its a number 1 and 3 England are lacking. His technique against the swinging ball is poor so he can't bat higher."

46.5
0
Cummins to Buttler, no run, short and through to the keeper
46.4
1
Cummins to Root, 1 run, short and aggressive, targetting the head, but pulled down to backward square to keep the runs ticking
46.3
3
Cummins to Buttler, 3 runs, fuller length, picks the gap this time with a thumping drive, splitting the covers, and handing the strike back to the more settled Root

jacob: "Now they seem to be drawing out the game. I'll laugh like a drain if they stuff this chase up now like they are doing." It'll take an incredible stuff-up from here. Just saying...

46.2
0
Cummins to Buttler, no run, lifting into the gloves, that's a sharp delivery, keeping England honest
46.1
1
Cummins to Root, 1 run, another single, chipping the deficit away

END OF OVER:
46 | 3 Runs | ENG: 292/4 (13 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.34, RRR: 3.25)

  • Joe Root83 (102b)
  • Jos Buttler1 (5b)
  • Andrew Tye10-0-43-0
  • Pat Cummins9-0-58-2

Mark: "The counter-argument to what people are saying (sensibly) about Roy is David Warner. Made his international debut in T20 before his FC debut, but turned into a very fine Test batsman." Damn right. He is living proof that the classiest players find a way, whatever their heritage

45.6
1
Tye to Root, 1 run, slower ball again, swings late, met with a compact drive to cover
45.5
0
Tye to Root, no run, outswinging slower-ball yorker. Not a bad nut to produce at the best of times. Beats Root all ends up outside off
45.4
1
Tye to Buttler, 1 run, thumped to the leg side
45.3
0
Tye to Buttler, no run, solidly into line

Mûftí WåjÎð: "People were baying for Roy's blood not long ago and it was only Morgan who kept faith in him. And just one innings and everybody is like they wanted him in ASHES. Surely he can be tried but only when he is in form like now." True, I think the wider point is why not try him in Tests in general? Hales had a chance, after all (and didn't disgrace himself, even if he was out of his ideal position)

45.2
0
Tye to Buttler, no run, short and sharp, good intent from Tye, who is not going without a fight

England's ODI mojo

7

Successful run-chases for England when chasing targets of 300 or more; five of those have happened since the 2015 World Cup

Record chase at the MCG

305

The target chased down by England, the highest ever in an ODI at the MCG. The previous highest was 296, by Australia against India in 2016

Roy's records

180

Jason Roy's score, the highest for England in ODIs, and also the 2nd-highest in ODIs in and against Australia

Roy on fire

32

Balls for Roy's 50, the quickest in ODIs for England v Australia. The previous record was 34 balls, by Roy (2015) and Buttler (2014)

England's terrific start

4.2

Overs for England to reach 50, their quickest in ODIs since the start of 2002. Previous fastest was 4.4 overs, v India in Southampton, 2011

Stoinis' quick 50

7

Faster ODI 50s for Australia v England than Stoinis' 37-ball effort. The quickest is off 24 balls, by Faulkner in Perth in February 2015

Hattrick of hundreds

121

Finch's ODI average v England at the MCG. In 3 innings he has scored 3 centuries - 121, 135, and 107

Finch's favourite opponents

5

Hundreds for Finch in 24 innings in international matches against England - four in ODIs and one in T20Is. Against all other opponents, he has 5 centuries from 91 innings