Australia vs England 2018: 1st ODI, 5 things we learnt from the match
A sensational 221-run partnership between Joe Root and Jason Roy - the latter smacked a sensational 180 - helped England to a fairly easy win over the hosts at the MCG in the first ODI of the five-match series. Buoyed by the flat batting track on offer, Roy scythed away at the Aussie bowlers to take England from 60/2 to 281 in no time.
Earlier, Aaron Finch helped overcome a superb start from Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett with his ninth ODI hundred. A flurry of boundaries from Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis helped overhaul the 300-mark but Roy's flamboyance and dominance of the Aussie bowlers helped erase the target in no time.
#5 Mark Wood's opening burst shows what England missed in the Tests
Mark Wood, present in the Ashes squad but never tested, extracted revenge with searing pace, extra lift off the surface and good intent. He had Aaron Finch and David Warner hopping around with his pace, something which England sorely missed in the Ashes.
Lack of pace was cited as one of the premier reasons for England's failure in the Tests and Wood showed why his injury came at the wrong time for England. The extra bounce he generated had Warner in all sorts of trouble and he skied one to the cordon soon enough.