Summary

  • First T20, Utilita Bowl, Southampton

  • Australia win by 28 runs to take 1-0 lead in three-match series

  • England 151 (19.2 overs): Livingstone 37 (27); Abbott 3-28

  • Australia fall from 132-3 to be bowled out for 179

  • Head smashes 59 off 23 and Livingstone claims 3-22

  • Watch highlights from 23:05 BST on BBC Two and iPlayer

Live Reporting

by Tom Mallows & Timothy Abraham

  1. Michael Carberry
    Former England batter on BBC 5 Live

    I have seen Matt Short bat and he can strike a ball. That was an effortless swing of the bat. Top shot.

  2. Alison Mitchell
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    That was a sublime pick up. As soon as the ball left the bat you know it was going over the rope and into the crowd.

  3. 6 runs

    Aus 23-0

    Reece Topley, his mullet freshly trimmed bouncing in the wind, very much bowling to his field.

    He twice bowls a little straight to Matthew Short midway through the over, though, and he effortlessly flicks for Topley for back-to-back sixes on the leg side.

    Pure timing from Short.

  4. Aus 8-0

    A impressive start from Jofra Archer who is touching the late 80s mph in that opening over. The skilful Reece Topley will bowl the second over.

  5. Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Travis Head is striking at 179 this year. Only one batter in T20 history (minimum 500 balls faced) has a higher strike rate in a calendar year - Andre Russell, who bettered Head in 2019 and this year.

  6. Aus 4-0

    Jofra Archer, running in with the breeze behind him, angles a peach of a delivery which has the left-handed Travis Head back high on his heels.

    A leading edge of the next ball in a similar area allows Head to get himself off the mark in a rather streaky manner.

  7. Aus 2-0

    A fraction short from Jofra Archer and Matthew Short clips it to square leg. Adil Rashid misfields, allowing Australia to pick up a couple of runs.

  8. Jofra Archer has the ball in hand and has just loosened up at the top of his mark. Matthew Short has just marked his guard.

    "Play" call the umpires.

  9. Fleeces and coats zipped up in abundance among the crowd at the Utilita Bowl as the sun starts to set in Southampton.

    England's players all have their hands in their pockets at the pre-match huddle before they head out, led out by stand-in skipper Phil Salt.

  10. Michael Carberry
    Former England batter on BBC 5 Live

    How can you not be excited? It also feels like there is more on a series when Australia is invovled.

    I'm also excited because we have a new-look team, a brave new world of English cricket.

    I have seen a little of Jacob Bethell in The Hundred and I'm quite keen to see how he goes today.

  11. Get Involved

    #bbccricket via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Theo: A batter short and too many quicks for me in that England line-up. Good to see some fresh faces though.

  12. BBC coverage of England v Australia

    BBC Test Match Special

    You can listen to ball-by-ball coverage of tonight's game on Radio 5 Live as well as on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds.

    Alison Mitchell and Geoff Lemon are providing the commentary alongside T20 World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent, Ashes winner Steven Finn and BBL winner Michael Carberry.

    You can listen by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

    We will bring you in-game clips right here on BBC Sport website and app as part of our live text coverage. There is also a full highlights show on BBC 2 and the iPlayer from 23.05 BST.

    But wait, there's more!

    The third T20 from Old Trafford is live on BBC One on Sunday from 14:00 BST.

  13. What's changed?

    England's squad for their T20 international series with AustraliaGetty Images

    In our opening post we referred to the winds of change in England's white-ball setup since the T20 Word Cup. So what has changed? Quite a lot, as it happens.

    Matthew Mott stepped down as England limited-overs coach at the end of July. Former England batter Marcus Trescothick is in charge for this end-of-season white ball bonanza against the Aussies.

    In January Brendon McCullum will take over as England's white-ball coach, with the New Zealander set to combine the job with his current role as Test coach.

    On the playing side, Moeen Ali has retired from international cricket while the futures of some players - Jonny Bairstow and Chris Jordan are not involved here - look uncertain.

    England have named two debutants in their side for this evening's match in Jacob Bethell and Jordan Cox.

    With Jos Buttler currently out injured we'll even have a new captain in the form of Phil Salt, who skippers England for the first time.

  14. Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    England win the toss and bowl - no surprise. In their last 15 T20Is at home where they have won the toss, England have opted to chase on 12 occasions.

  15. 'Cannot wait to get stuck in'

    Australia captain Mitchell Marsh: "We'd have had a bowl first. It was a privilege to play in Scotland and it was a long time since the Australians had been there. The cricket was great and we are ready to go here.

    "There's some young guys who will certainly get opportunities throughout this series and I think that's fantastic. Ultimately. we want these guys to enjoy playing cricket.

    "Playing here as the Australian team provides a lot of challenges and a lot of fun. It's been a long day and we cannot wait to get stuck into it."

  16. The teams

    England XI: Phil Salt (captain/wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Reece Topley

    Australia XI: Travis Head, Matt Short, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

  17. 'Honour to captain'

    England skipper Phil Salt: "The venue suits bowling first and with the covers just coming off it suits it even more.

    "It is very exciting [to see new players coming into the side]. You can feel the excitement within the group. Hopefully they show how good they are.

    "Australia are always a challenge here or overseas. We give them a lot of respect but it is a good opportunity to show how good we are.

    "It is very special to be captain. You feel responsibility. It is a shame Jos Buttler wasn't fit but it is a great honour."

  18. England win toss and bowl

    England skipper Phil Salt gave the coin a flick and Australian counterpart Mitchell Marsh has called heads.

    It's a tail and Salt has decided he fancies chasing.

  19. Bring me sunshine...

    An aerial view of the Utilita BowlUtilita

    In my humblest of opinions cricket in the UK is, by and large, trying to do it's bit to become a big greener.

    Another step in the right direction is being made at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton this evening after a project funded by the ground's sponsor comes to fruition.

    In July, Eastleigh Borough Council gave planning approval for 1,044 solar panels to be installed, which will cover 25% of the annual electricity used in the venue.

    The switch-on of the panels will take place before this evening's match.

    David Mann, chief executive at Utilita Bowl, said this was "the first key step" on the path to becoming "the world's greenest cricket ground ".

    Read the full story from our colleagues at BBC News here...

  20. Sam Drury
    BBC Sport at Utilita Bowl

    The sun is now shining at the Utilita Bowl so it doesn't look like there will be any further delay.

    Certainly if I look out to my right, there is nothing but clear skies. It's a very different - and much darker - picture to my left but I'm hoping that is what passed over the ground a little while ago.