Australia win toss and field against England

LONDON (AFP) –

Australia captain Michael Clarke, seen here on March 4, won the toss and elected to field in the first one-day international against England at Lord’s

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to field in the first one-day international against England at Lord’s here on Friday.

England were unchanged from the side that wrapped up a 2-0 series win over the West Indies last week while Australia struck with the team that thrashed an Essex XI featuring England one-day captain Alastair Cook by 179 runs on Tuesday.

If England sweep this series 5-0 they will replace Australia at the top of the one-day international rankings and become the first team to top the standings in all three formats — Test, ODI and Twenty20 — of the game.

Veteran fast bowler Brett Lee came into this match needing just two more wickets to have taken the most in one-day internationals for Australia.

The tourists pace attack also featured 19-year-old rising star Pat Cummins, who was playing his first match against England.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson

Australia: David Warner, Shane Watson, George Bailey, Michael Clarke (capt), David Hussey, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade (wkt), Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG)

TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)

Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)