England are thrashed by a depleted Australia in first ODI as sparking unbeaten century from Travis Head puts early dent in home side’s white-ball reset

England’s one-day reset began with an anticlimactic defeat, caused by illness among Australia’s part-time bowlers.

Travis Head’s unbeaten 154, the highest score in a one-day international match by an Australian in this country, plus 77 not out from Marnus Labuschagne gave the series a 1-0 lead with 36 balls unused.

But it was the duo’s rare contributions with the ball on the fourth wicket that laid the foundations for England’s humiliation in their first one-day international since Matthew Mott was sacked as coach.

Opponents missing their fast bowling giants, England somehow managed to lose their last eight wickets for 102. Head’s off-spin settled the innings for 316 with two dismissals in the last over, after Labuschagne had taken a personal best of three for 39 with his occasional leg-spin.

Harry Brook, leading England for the first time in the absence of injured white-ball captain Jos Buttler, was one of Labuschagne’s three victims but dismissed the idea that recklessness was at the heart of the problem, saying: ‘We’re there to score runs. If you get caught on the boundary or in the infield somewhere, who cares? On another day that might have been six runs.’

Harry Brook (right) was England’s captain and started their new era with Jos Buttler out injured

Brendon McCullum will lead the new era as coach, but won’t officially start until the new year

Marcus Trescothick, acting coach until Brendon McCullum takes overall charge of England’s teams next year, felt the toss was a significant factor, ignoring the fact that Brook had won the match.

With its small size and fast outfield, Trent Bridge is a high-scoring ground. England even smashed a then world record of 481 for six when these two cricketing opponents last met here in a One-Day International six years ago.

They took the lead again when they reached 170 for two midway through their innings, driven by a stand of 120 at seven an over between Ben Duckett and Will Jacks.

Their separation by Adam Zampa, whose opening three-over over in his 100th ODI appearance cost 27 runs, came after Australian debutant Ben Dwarshuis was unable to return to the field due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Dwarshuis played only because Pat Cummins had missed this tour and other experienced pacers, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, were also absent due to a flu virus in the Australian training camp.

Australia went into the match looking to make it 13th consecutive ODI victory but were short of power

Ben Duckett, who opened for England, carried his Test summer form into the match

He continued to regret his dismissal, having fallen five runs short of a century when England batted first

England’s momentum was lost when Duckett smashed a hundred for the second time this month. A poorly executed scoop left him stranded in the 80s in a Test defeat to Sri Lanka, and he had moved within five runs on home soil when a jab at a googly that stuck in the surface was seized on by Labuschagne in his follow-through.

Brook countered with a series of boundaries, but when he and Jamie Smith went down within three overs of each other, Jacob Bethell was able to lead the tail of the match with 35 from 34 balls on debut.

“It was a different way of skinning it and we did exceptionally well,” the Australian chief said of using small rollers.

And a target of 316 felt considerably below par unless England could do something their opponents couldn’t: take early wickets.

The most likely source for this seems to be Jofra Archer, who is using this series to build up the length of his bowling matches so he is ready for next year’s Ashes Down Under.

Jofra Archer is using the series to build up fitness after previously being restricted to just T20s

Archer could do little to stop Head, who shone as Australia triumphed at Trent Bridge

Although Archer reached 90mph in his first ODI appearance in 18 months, his pace was expertly turned against him by the Australians, with Head greeting a change to the Stuart Broad side by flicking over the square leg boundary and Steve Smith adding a second six soon after by helping over fine leg.

The chase would have taken a different turn had Brydon Carse latched on to a reverse cup grab driven deep into goal by Head on six. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh had chosen a deep square leg in the same match.

If he had remained in a conventional position, 10 metres further back, Carse would probably have swallowed the catch.

However, the fact that it was a little different was symbolic of England’s time.