Travis Head’s sensational 154 from 129 deliveries led Australia to a seven-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at Trent Bridge.

Head had set himself a target of 316 to win and was sensational with the bat, hitting 14 fours and three sixes to score his sixth century in an ODI and England were unable to counter his free-flowing attack.

Ricky Ponting was the highest-scoring player for Australia against England in ODIs at Trent Bridge with 126, but Head surpassed that and more, playing every shot in his repertoire.

And Australia’s performance was the most successful run chase in an ODI match on this ground.

After England won the toss and decided to bat, the team formed a strong partnership between Ben Duckett (96) and Will Jacks (62). The century stand was achieved in just 86 balls.

But Marnus Labuschagne (3-39) and Adam Zampa (3-49) brought Australia back into the game. The former sent off both Duckett and Harry Brook (39), while the latter cleaned up the midfield and the team slipped to 315 points.

Head unbeatable, England’s bowlers weaken

Although Australia lost the early wicket of captain Mitch Marsh (10) to a throw from Matthew Potts (1-33) in the fourth over, it did not take long for an important partnership to be built: Head and Steve Smith (32) combined to make a 50-stand from just 40 throws.

Head was as calm as ever and scored his 17th ODI half-century in exactly 50 balls, including nine fours and a six, and continued to trouble the English bowlers.

England relied on spin and made the breakthrough: Smith sent Livingstone’s ball (1-75) straight back to the bowler and Australia was 96-2 after 15.3 overs.

At half-time, however, Australia were 159-2 ahead, with Head and Cameron Green (32) playing a beautiful sequence of strokes and already reaching a partnership of 50 runs after 52 balls. England were helpless and needed a response. The visitors showed both spin and seam with great skill on a pitch known for many wickets.

The answer came from Jacob Bethell (1-20) on his ODI debut. He beat Green with the quicker delivery and Australia were 171-3 after 26 overs.

Despite the falling wicket, Head continued his fine form; his sixth ODI century in 66 matches came off 92 deliveries with 14 fours and three maximums.

Head’s milestone was secured and Australia were 200-3 after 32 overs. The opener continued to play powerfully and targeted an over from Brydon Carse (0-42) to put England under immense pressure as the visitors needed exactly 96 runs from 96 balls.

The runs continued to come at the required pace before Labuschagne (77no) decided to join in the big hitting action: two sixes and a four in just one Livingstone over.

The target was then 50 runs from 66 balls as Labuschagne reached his 12th ODI half-century from 42 deliveries. He and Head continued to pound the boundary, so they needed just three runs from 37 balls and secured the win at a canter with a fitting boundary.

With this win, Australia are now unbeaten in 13 ODIs since October 2023.

Duckett and Jacks deliver with the bat before the middle order collapses

England started solidly, looking to score high, which Australia managed to get. And after six overs, the team came alive: Duckett added four boundaries in one over to make 29 off 21 deliveries.

Although Phil Salt (17) then fell to Ben Dwarshius (1-18) for the debutant’s first ODI wicket, a lively partnership developed when the Jacks came to bat in the eighth over and England were 59-1 at the end of the Powerplay.

Although England are known for their aggressive attack, the team played with much more control and aggression. Even Australia’s trump card Zampa, in his 100th ODI, struggled to make the early breakthrough. Duckett’s fourth ODI fifty came in the 18th over when he scored 50 runs with six fours from 49 deliveries.

This honour followed shortly afterwards for Jacks in the 22nd over with just 46 balls, three fours and two sixes taking him to this milestone.

A great catch then proved to be Zampa and the visitors’ breakthrough, Steve Smith kept Jacks’ bat towards extra cover and left England at 168-2, which they extended to 170-2 at the halfway point of their innings.

With Dwarshius injured on his debut, Australia opted for part-time spinner Labuschagne and the wickets started falling. Duckett sent the ball straight back into the bowler’s path and managed a walk to be just five runs away from another ODI century.

Oddly enough, Brook then fell in the same manner as Labuschagne again dove at his own throw, leaving England at 232-4 with 16 overs to play. England lost those three wickets for just 43 runs.

England then stumbled, the midfield collapsed and Jamie Smith (23), Liam Livingstone (13), Brydon Carse (2), Jofra Archer (4), Jacob Bethell (35) and Adil Rashid (0) tried to play so freely that they gave away their wickets carelessly. Despite a strong start, the home team could only score 315.

Head: We played exceptionally well | Brook: Our result was below average

Player of the game Travis Head:

“I was lucky and Jofra (Archer) had an incredibly good throw at the beginning. I’m glad I can carry on, it’s a great wicket here.”

“I think we did a great job and made it to 315. It was a tough start and I thought it was great to stick it out.”

“We played exceptionally well.

“The environment is good and I enjoy playing for the guys. I have worked extremely hard and it is paying off in my game.”

England captain Harry Brook:

“We have done everything we promised.

We went out and scored quickly and when we came out to bowl we tried to take wickets but today was not our day, hopefully this can be the next one.

“We wanted to score high, but it was difficult in the middle and in holding the field.”

“We ended up with a below-average score.

“I felt good out there myself, Jacks played well. It’s a long series and hopefully we can carry this momentum.”

England vs. Australia schedule – all matches live on Sky Sports

• 1st ODI (19 September) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham – Australia wins by seven wickets
• 2nd ODI (21 September) – Headingley, Leeds (kick-off 11am)
• 3rd ODI (24 September) – Unique Riverside, Durham (start 12.30pm)
• 4th ODI (27 September) – Lord’s, London (start 12.30pm)
• 5th ODI (29 September) – The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (start 11am)

Watch England vs Australia in the second ODI-LiWatch cricket on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.30pm (first ball, 11am) on Saturday 21 September and stream it contract-free with NOW.