Champions Trophy ENG v AUS: England beat Australia by 48 runs

England struck the first blow at the start of an eight-month campaign against Australia involving 26 matches in all three formats of the game by winning their Champions Trophy Group A game in Birmingham on Saturday.

The hosts defeated their oldest enemy in their opening match of the eight-nation 50-overs competition by 48 runs in advance of back-to-back Ashes series and four limited-overs series.

James Anderson became England's leading one-day wicket taker when he dismissed Mitchell Marsh for five. It was his 235th wicket, putting him one ahead of Darren Gough.

"He's great bowler," England captain Alastair Cook told Sky Sports. "He just keeps getting better and better."

Australia, set 270 to win on a good batting pitch, gave a lacklustre performance and fell steadily behind the required run rate after taking the field without their injured captain Michael Clarke.

Shane Watson, their best one-day batsman, survived a hard chance to Cook off Stuart Broad but still made only 24 from 40 deliveries. His opening partner David Warner was out for nine and Phil Hughes was lbw to Joe Root for 30 trying to force the pace with an ill-judged pull shot.

Stand-in captain George Bailey was the top-scorer with 55 and his dismissal in the 40th over spelt the end of Australia's victory hopes.

England rallied after a middle-order collapse to reach 269 for six on a slow pitch with Ravi Bopara (46 not out) and Tim Bresnan (19 not out) adding 56 from 41 balls in an eighth-wicket partnership.

They reached 168 for the loss of only Cook (30) but wickets quickly tumbled.

Man-of-the-match Ian Bell top-scored with 91 off 115 balls and Jonathan Trott made 43 but none of the other specialist batsmen made any impact.

Root went for 12, Eoin Morgan was bowled for eight and Jos Buttler, England's most dangerous one-day batsman, made only one.

"It was a little bit frustrating," Cook said. "But I always thought 270 was going to be enough."

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Anderson picks up his third wicket bowling Starc. Aus 190-9.

M Starc b Anderson 5 (8b 0x4 0x6)

It's all over bar the shouting as far as Australia are concerned.

Australia are collapsing in a heap. Aus 175-8.

M Johnson c Morgan b Bopara 8 (10b 0x4 0x6)

Faulkner smashes a six off Tredwell as the Aussie tail make a last ditch stand. Aus 173-7 in 42 overs.

Australia's faint hopes of a victory are dashed as skipper George Bailey departs holing out to Morgan. Aus 151-7.

G Bailey c Root b Tredwell 55 (69b 2x4 0x6)

Australia crash to 138-6 after a double strike by Anderson in the 36th over.

M Wade c Buttler b Anderson 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)

M Marsh c Morgan b Anderson 5 (12b 1x4 0x6)

Excellent over by Broad conceding only 1 rum. Aus 128-4 in 34 overs.

Voges Bowled out by Bresnan conceding only 3 runs of the over. Aus 127-4 in 33 overs.

A Voges b Bresnan 15 (23b 1x4 0x6)

Root takes the wicket of Hughes. Aus 96-3 in 26 overs.

P Hughes lbw b Root 30 (55b 3x4 0x6)

Bopara goes expencive with conceding  13 runs. Aus 85-2 in 23 overs.

Watson caught by cook. Aus 47-2 in 15 overs.

Board bowls a maiden over. Aus 35-1 in 10 overs.

Warner caught behind wicket for 9 runs. Aus 17-1 in 6 overs.

D Warner c Buttler b Broad 9 (21b 1x4 0x6).

Warner hits the first boundary of the innings flicking Broad to fine leg. Aus 15-0 in 4 overs.

Warner takes strike against Anderson.

ENGLAND INNINGS

Back to back boundaries by Bresnan. Eng 239-6 in 47 overs.

Faulkner bowled Buttler for 1 run. Eng 215-6 in 44 overs.

J Buttler b Faulkner 1 (2b 0x4 0x6

McKay strikes Morgan for 8 runs. Eng 213-5 in 43 overs

E Morgan b McKay 8 (12b 0x4 0x6)

Back to back wickets. Root out for 12 runs. Eng 190-4 in 39 overs.

J Root c Bailey b McKay 12 (17b 1x4 0x6)

Bell gets cleaned up by Faulkner for 91 runs. Eng 189-3 in 38 overs.

I Bell b Faulkner 91 (115b 7x4 0x6)

Root hits a lovely scoop behind the fine leg to a boundary. Eng 180-2 in 36 overs.

Starc breaks the partnership by having Trott caught behind the stumps. Eng 170-2 in 34 overs.

J Trott c Wade b Starc 43 (56b 1x4 0x6)

100 runs partnership between Bell and Trott. Eng 163-1 in 33 overs.

Bell hits a boundary. Eng 123-1 in 28 overs.

Johnson returns to the attacks and bowls a tight over conceding just four runs. Eng 115-1 in 26 overs.

England have reached 111-1 at the halfway stage of the innings with the second wicket pair of Bell and Trott having posted a half century stand.

Bell completes his 27th ODI fifty off 70 balls. It contained four boundaries. Eng 100-1 in 23 overs.

Bell hits a much needed boundary for England pulling Faulkner to square leg. Eng 97-1 in 22 overs.

Left arm spinner Voges has come into the attack and gives away just four runs. Eng 91-1 in 21 overs.

Faulkner bowls another tight over conceding just three runs. Eng 87-1 in 20 overs.

England are struggling for runs with Starc keeping tight. Eng 84-1 in 19 overs.

Faulkner comes into attack and bowls a good over. Eng 80-1 in 18 overs.

Trott breaks the shackles driving Starc through the covers for a boundary. Eng 74-1 in 17 overs.

Runs seems to have dried up for England as play resumes after the drinks break. Eng 70-1 in 16 overs.

A relatively good over for England as they pick five runs off a returning Starc. Eng 68-1 in 15 overs.

Watson bowls another good over. Eng 63-1 in 14 overs.
 
McKay keeps it tight as Australia bowl with a spring in their step after dismissing Cook. Eng 60-1 in 13 overs.

Watson strikes in his second over as Cook drives only to get an outside edge and be caught behind by Wade. Eng 57-1.

A Cook c Wade b Watson 30 (42b 3x4 0x6)

McKay bowls another tight over conceding just two runs. Eng 56-0 in 11 overs.

Cook and Bell have given a solid start having reached 54 without loss at the end of the mandatory Powerplay overs. Eng 54-0 in 10 overs.

Bell greets Watson with a glorious straight drive for a boundary to bring up the England 50 in the 10th over.

Good comeback over by McKay conceding just one run. Eng 46-0 in 9 overs.

Cook is growing in confidence picking up a boundary off Johnson punching him through the covers. Eng 45-0 in 8 overs.

Cook gets his second boundary cracking McKay through the covers. Eng 36-0 in 7 overs.

Johnson keeps the England batsmen on a tight leash. Eng 30-0 in 6 overs.

Bell punches McKay over extra cover for his second boundary. Eng 27-0 in 5 overs.

Another good over by Johnson. Eng 20-0 in 4 overs.

Bell gets his first boundary driving Starc through the covers. Eng 16-0 in 3 overs.

Bell survives being run out after finding himself at the same end as Cook with England get a couple following overthrows.

Johnson bowls a tight opening over conceding just a single off the last ball. England 6-0 in 2 overs.

Cook clips the first ball of the match from Starc to the square leg fence. England 5-0 after 1 over.

Starc to open proceedings while Cook takes strike.

England have won the toss and have decided to bat first against Australia in the opening group A clash of the Champions Trophy in Edgbaston on Saturday.

PLAYING XI

England - A Cook, I Bell, J Trott, J Root, E Morgan, R Bopara, J Buttler, T Bresnan, S Broad, J Tredwell, J Anderson

Australia - D Warner, S Watson, P Hughes, G Bailey, A Voges, M Marsh, M  Wade, J Faulkner, M Johnson, M Starc, C McKay

Clarke has been ruled out of the side's first Champions Trophy group match against England on Saturday due to injury, Cricket Australia said on Friday. "Michael is making steady progress in his recovery from the recent lower back injury but is yet to return to training," Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement.

"He will remain in London over the coming days to continue his rehabilitation and will not be available for the first match against England on Saturday."

Kountouris said the batsman's response to treatment would determine his availability for the match against New Zealand at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Clarke is a key player for Australia, whose morale ahead of their title defence has already been dented by being bowled out for 65 by India in a warm-up match on Tuesday, and his absence will be a boost for hosts England.

The captain sat out that match in Cardiff after also missing last Saturday's encounter against West Indies.