Abbott mops up after Short and Head run riot

England came undone against Australia, falling to a 28-run defeat in the first T20I.

- Taha Hashim

The hosts fielded three T20I debutants Jamie Overton, Jordan Cox and Jacob Bethell - but three significant figures in the Australian game wrote the story. To begin with, there was the thunder of Travis Head, his 29-ball 53 setting an imposing target of 180 that could have been even stronger had England not enjoyed a resurgence through spin.

When it came to the reply, Adam Zampa's tweak proved difficult to navigate, his leggies choking up the middle overs and accounting for two wickets. When England found hope, with Liam Livingstone crunching a few to get himself to 37, Josh Hazlewood knocked the stumps to make it 108 for six in the 14th over. Joy for this new England setup will have to wait another day.

Much has changed since the last time Australia's white-ball team visited England, during the lockdown summer of four years ago. Back then the hosts were the ones to follow, Eoin Morgan's band of 50-over world-beaters still happily ticking along, Aaron Finch's men the ones looking to prove themselves. Australia have since won two World Cups to become the shortform experts. In Southampton they carried that alpha energy as Head, that moustachioed Ahmedabad party pooper, opened up a week on from a cool 25-ball 80 against Scotland.