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

Wood had Warner fending at a shortish delivery

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.

#4 Adil Rashid gets the big fish

Rashid hit his straps early

Wood wasn't the only one who made England ponder the 'what ifs'. Adil Rashid, dumped for the Tests due to his inconsistency - Mason Crane was picked in his place - sent Australian fans into a tizzy when he had the Bradmanesque Steven Smith with a slider. Known for turning the ball, Rashid kept bowling sliders at Smith in the over.

By the fifth ball, it seemed like the Aussie skipper had decided that it would be a ripping leg break and went for an expansive drive outside off. But Rashid pushed in another arm ball and the resulting inside edge was snapped up by Buttler.

#3 Aaron Finch blasts dominant ton

Aaron Finch raced away to a fine hundred at the MCG

Surviving Australia's initial burst, Aaron Finch stroked his way to a spectacular hundred with the supporting act coming from the recalled Mitchell Marsh, who made a half-century himself. Finch feasted on some ordinary bowling in the middle by the English and registered his ninth ODI hundred.

He reached his landmark by hoisting Adil Rashid over the long-on ropes. Having lost Warner and Smith early, it was imperative that Finch clicked for Australia and he did so in style. Alongside Mitchell Marsh, he put on a 118 run stand in no time and enabled the Aussies to crawl back into the game after the early setbacks. He eventually holed out when on 107.

#2 Jason Roy blasts Ashes heroes to Pluto

Roy slammed the Aussie seamers en route a fine hundred

With a daunting target ahead of them, England needed the openers to start off on a fine note. They lost Jonny Bairstow, promoted to open ahead of Alex Hales, early on and then the latter himself departed. This left Jason Roy to steady the ship with Joe Root. Roy was at his belligerent best and slammed Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins to all corners of the MCG.

Cummins and Starc - both of whom proved to be a nemesis for England in the Ashes campaign - were smashed for 83 runs in 10 combined overs at the start. Roy never let the Aussies off the hook and plundered them on his way to a fine century. The experience of his stint with Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League came to his aid at the MCG.

He raced on even after his hundred and at one stage threatened to become the first English batsman to score a double ton but that wasn't to be. He was eventually sent back for 180 but not before ensuring England were well on their way to a win.

#1 Root still cannot hit three figures

Root played the perfect foil to Roy's brilliance at the MCG

Joe Root just cannot get to the three-figure mark. After threatening to do so several times during the Test series, Root once again appeared well on course for a hundred today but his partner, Jason Roy, intervened and thrashed the Aussies to help England very close to the target. By the time Roy was gone - after a 221 run stand with his skipper - Root did not have enough runs to get to the landmark.

He ended up unbeaten on 91 but had done a terrific job. The 221-run association not only helped England climb back from the abyss they were in at the start, but also enabled them to wipe off the target with utmost ease.