Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Alex Hales is a brilliant player. It would have a brave call to have left him out on the fact he was outscored by Phil Salt during the Pakistan series. It's great to see Jos Buttler back at the top of the order as well. Partnerships like these are what you watch T20 for.

Kane Richardson will bowl the second over. Alex Hales is on strike with a chance to show Englnd were right to pick him over Phil Salt, at least for this game.

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Thumped. The over ends with a fourth boundary for Jos Buttler. Green serves up another half-volley and this time sees it disappear over mid-off.

Just the start England would have wanted. Green just couldn't get his length quite right.

Make that three in a row for Buttler!

Yet again, Green is too full and this time the England skipper pumps the ball back over his head. Super start for Buttler on his return from injury.

Four more! Over-pitched again by Green and Buttler drills the ball through the covers. A classic cover drive.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Cameron Green bowling first up? He's not in their World Cup squad. I have a sneaky feeling Australia have got an injury in their camp they are not telling us about.

Cameron Green will bowl the first over and after starting with a dot ball, the next is too full, too wide and crunched through point by Jos Buttler.

An early boundary for the England captain.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Does this answer the question of who will open at the World Cup? I think so. It was probably always going to be Alex Hales given not just T20 record, but his record in Australia. I think it would have harsh to leave him out. We may see Phil Salt during this mini series in case of injury.

Up to 30,000 fans expected at the Optus today and they belt out 'Advance Australia Fair' but it's a slightly more muted response for Buttler and Hales as they head out to the middle.

Hales has got the nod over Phil Salt today. Is today a chance for him to cement his place in the XI for the World Cup?

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The teams are out at the Optus Stadium and we're just about ready for the national anthems with the first ball a little over five minutes away.

While England welcome back big names such as Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, Australia have indeed given some of their top players a breather.

It remains to be seen whether Steve Smith will be part of their first choice XI at the World Cup but he sits out today, as does the entirety of what is likely to be the favoured bowling attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa.

The replacement bowling attack still looks pretty handy, though...

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

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Australia are trying to figure out their XI for the World Cup but it's still a strong side. It's probably got a few players who would not be among their first choices and they get a chance to impress.

Daniel Norcross
BBC Test Match Special

This was the side we wrote down over breakfast so no major surprises, really. Liam Livingstone isn't fit yet so the only decision was over whether Phil Salt or Alex Hales would play. Salt was put up for interview the other day which made you think maybe he would play, but Hales gets the nod.

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Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Cameron Green, Matthew Wade (wk), Daniel Sams, Nathan Ellis, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Swepson.

England: Jos Buttler (c & wk), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley.

England captain Jos Buttler: "We'd have bowled first as well. Personally, it's great to be back to full fitness for this series with the World Cup just round the corner.

"Ben Stokes is playing. He's a great person to welcome back and exciting to see him back in action. The group is in a good place. There's been some change and we have some match winners without too much expectation. We look forward to the World Cup."

On Mark Wood's inclusion: "A lot of people talk about this being a quick pitch, he was quick in Pakistan and we look forward to unleashing him."

Australia captain Aaron Finch: "It looks like there might be a little bit in the pitch, that'll happen all game, but we back ourselves to chase down a total later on.

"Very different team, I think we've got five players out from the last game. It gives the guys who have travelled around the last few months a chance to play which is always good.

"Stoinis is back with Mitch Marsh as well, they love playing here. They get great support from the Western Australians.

"We want to make sure we've got all bases covered going into the World Cup. You don't want one injury to derail your whole campaign because you're playing one structure of a team."

Jos Buttler calls 'heads', the coin comes down 'tails' and Aaron Finch asks England to bat first in Perth.

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The Twenty20 World Cup is getting ever closer and after a thrilling seven-game series in Pakistan, England have another chance to test their credentials as they take on reigning champions Australia.

It's not quite The Ashes but nobody wants to be on the losing side when these two meet, and with places in the World Cup XI at stake, there is plenty to play for in this three-match series.

England could welcome back some of their big-hitters, too, with Ben Stokes among those to have joined up with the squad. Will he be involved today? We'll find out at the toss...