Image source, Reuters

Sangakkara has 29, his partner Lahiru Thirimanne reached 50 from 45 balls after being dropped and now has 58. Sri Lanka going along nicely.

New Zealand v Sri Lanka scorecard - listen to online-only TMS commentary via the "Live Coverage" tab at the top of the page.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Common sense tells me, Australia are the favourites as they've been winning and playing well. I'm not really happy with Ballance's selection this late in the day. He should've been playing months ago. To bring him in when he's had hardly any cricket, against the biggest enemy, is a dangerous idea. England don't have a settled batting order like the Aussies do."

James Anderson is straight into the groove, bowling a length which is a smidgen shorter than he would deliver in England as he tries to tempt an outside edge to the two slips he has in place. He almost succeeds too, as David Warner plays a wild shot and fails to connect. Five dots and a two. Steady start, but England will want a breakthrough.

Simon Bamford: My cat woke me up just in time. Come on #England v #Australia

Howard Horner: Weirdly optimistic about England's chances, but I'm more excited to be going to sleep with TMS. One of my favourite pleasures!

Dale Harris: Dropped catch in the first over, hope it's not a sign of what's to come for England.

Another change of plan from England in the opening game? Chris Woakes normally shares the new ball with Jimmy, but today's it's every Australian's favourite pom, Stuart Broad. Aaron Finch, who was dropped in the first over, looks a little nervous as he plays and misses with an expansive drive outside off stump. Three from a steady over.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Finch flicked it off his hips and it's not gone too hard at catchable height. These are moments which can really count and you need to take advantage of."

The pitch is an absolute road - the sun is shining off its smooth surface and almost causing a glare. James Anderson gets us going and David Warner shows restraint by blocking the first ball, getting off the mark with a gentle push into the off side from the third ball. Anderson gets some nice shape away from the right-handed Aaron Finch, who is then dropped at midwicket by Chris Woakes as he chips into the leg side. A let-off for the big man.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I was never that much of a fan of the huddle. Nothing groundbreaking ever gets said in there, it was normally all for show when I played. We all just got together and then ran off to the middle screaming, 'yeah!"

David Warner takes guard, James Anderson is chucked the new ball. Let's get this show on the road. Will David try and belt the first ball for four? Don't bet against it.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain

"If England can reach the semi-finals, they have over-exceeded. If they get knocked out in the quarter-finals again then it won't be enough. If they get to a final then it will be a ridiculous over achievement.

"They have to get out of the groups stages first, the first two games are so important, if England don't win and then play Scotland in Christchurch, they are a threat, they are a naughty team on their day.

"Semi-final would be a success, heavy defeat in a quarter-final would be a failure."

While the Aussies openers go and pad up, the England team stays out on the field and gets into a huddle. Decked out in dark blue, they look a determined bunch.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"I played in the very first day-night ODI in Melbourne in 1985 and can tell you it was a hostile, ugly environment.

"Still, if England can get to grips with that, silence the crowd and pull off a shock, what a stunning start to the tournament that would be.

"Australia are a very good side - and they know it. They will be confident that they will can beat anyone and win this tournament. They are the favourites and rightly so."

Read more from Aggers in his online column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Now for some 'Advance Australia fair'. Their yellow kits look resplendent in the bright Melbourne sunshine.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Melbourne

"Test Match Special takes the airwaves with Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott on the microphone. Yes, we really are that high up."

Image source, BBC Sport

The two teams are out on the field, and the England players put their arms around each other's shoulders as the national anthem is played out. This feels special. Extra special.

Image source, Getty Images

In defence of Gary Ballance, he does have the fifth highest List A career record in history., external The fourth best? James Taylor.

Spinner Daniel Vettori has made the breakthrough for New Zealand with a smart caught and bowled to remove Tillakaratne Dilshan for 24. Lahiru Thirimanne is still there on 46 and has been joined by Kumar Sangakkara.

New Zealand v Sri Lanka scorecard - listen to online-only TMS commentary via the "Live Coverage" tab at the top of the page.

Hallam Baker-Howard: The inclusion of Ballance really is a unspectacular choice, replaced one batsmen in the top 20 slowest strike rates with another.

Josh Withers: Surely Ballance has to bat at 6? Taylor has done plenty to show he deserves the number 3 slot.

Nev Ward: More Mitchells in the Aussie team than in EastEnders.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"They are always big occasions World Cups, but it's England v Australia, so they're always big occasions. It's important to get off to a good start but today, it's not the end of the world if you lose. England have not been great in the run-up, there's been changes in the team even today. We look at this objectively and we ask, 'what are you thinking?' Do England not know their best side?"

Listen to Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"There's an estimated 90,000 crowd here at the MCG for Australia's opening match with a buzzing atmosphere. This is an England team who have been struggling against Australia having lost 13 of their last 15 ODIs against them."