Travis Head’s superb career-best 154 not out saw depleted world champions Australia to a seven-wicket win over England in the first one-day international at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Australia, set 316 for victory, finished on 3-317 with six overs to spare as they went 1-0 up in a five-match series to make it 13 ODI wins in a row against all opponents.
Marnus Labuschagne, who earlier claimed three wickets in a career-best bowling performance, then completed a fine all-round display by making 77 not out off 61 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes, in an unbroken partnership of 148 with fellow 30-year-old Head.
Watch Australia v England ODIs Live & exclusive on FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Australia lost Marsh early in their chase when he holed out off Matthew Potts. Three balls later Head, the hundred hero of Australia’s World Cup final win over India last year, almost fell for six.
His slashing square-cut off Potts flew to deep point only for Brydon Carse, who had come in too far off the boundary rope at Brook’s request, just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular leaping catch.
Head, taking a toll of both England’s quicks and spinners, completed a run-a-ball fifty.
But star batsman Steve Smith, also looking in good touch, fell for 32, including three sixes, when chipping a return catch to spinner Liam Livingstone.
The untroubled Head completed a sixth century in 66 ODIs and went to exactly 150 by going down the pitch to launch Livingstone for a spectacular six over long-on.
Head then surpassing his previous highest ODI score of 152, against England at Melbourne two years ago, with the left-handed opener facing 129 balls, including 20 fours and five sixes, in total on Thursday.
Earlier, Australia suffered another injury blow when debutant Ben Dwarshuis was unable to complete his overs after a promising start due to a pectoral muscle he strained when fielding in the outer.
The Australians were unable to select World Cup heroes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood or Glenn Maxwell due to illness.
With English opener Ben Duckett, who fell five runs short of his century, and No. 3 Will Jacks producing a superb 120-run partnership, the host nation looked on target for a monster total in the opening game of the five-match ODI series.
But Australian captain Mitch Marsh noted the conditions and turned to spin and gradually the tourists slowed their rivals, bowled out for 315 in the 50th over.
England lost 5 for 65 after Duckett fell for 95 in the 33rd over, with part-timer Marnus Labuschagne taking the crucial wickets of Duckett and English captain Harry Brooks before adding Joffra Archer to his scalps late in the innings.
Former English captain Mike Atherton praised Labuschagne, describing him as a “jack of all trades” when noting his variety had befuddled the English batters at a time when they were well on top.
“He has got excellent figures, Labuschagne,” Atherton said, who believed England’s score was below-par given their promising start.
Labuschagne was well supported by Australia’s front line spinner Adam Zampa who, after going for 18 runs in his opening two overs, rallied strongly in his 100th ODI game for his nation.
The leg-spinner removed the dangerous Jacks for 62 off 56 balls and then had Liam Livingstone (13) and Brydon Carse (2) dismissed in almost identical fashion when both holed out in the deep to Cameron Green when trying to increase the pace.
Jacob Bethell made a late rally for England when scoring 35 runs from 34 balls before falling to Head, who was blowing Australia’s 32nd over of spin for the attack.
From the 33rd over, Marsh deployed only spin for the remained of England’s innings. Australia’s spinners combined for 9 for 190 in the match, with Dwarshuis the only pace bowler to secure a wicket.
“It was trial by spin and very good by the Australian spinners,” ex-England captain Nassar Hussein said.
Ricky Ponting praised Marsh’s capacity to think on the run and applauded his determination to rotate his bowlers regularly to disrupt England’s rhythm.
“His hand was forced a little bit … but I think it was pretty evident from the 15th over onward that the pitch was slowing up,” Ponting said.
“He was forced to do it but found something that worked … and they have done an amazing job, really. Flexibility through your batting and bowling is definitely what we are after.”
Matthew Short, who finished with 1 for 68, was the only Australian bowler outside of Zampa to get through his ten overs, with Travis Head handy in four overs despite failing to take a wicket.
Dwarshuis, meanwhile, became the 248th player to represent Australia in the 50-over format, having previously debuted for his nation in T20 cricket in 2022.
Alex Carey has returned to the Australian team as wicketkeeper, while Western Australian Cooper Connolly is the 12th man for the match.
There was no room for Jake Fraser-McGurk in the side, with Matt Short preferred in his place after impressing in the recent T20 series against England which finished at 1-all after rain washed out the final match.
The series continues at Headingley on Saturday.
Relive all the action from Australia vs England in our live blog below!
