England in Australia: Alex Hales & Mark Wood star in first T20

Alex Hales scored 84 off 51 balls as England defeated Australia in the first T20 international.

Hales put on 132 in just 11 overs with Buttler as the pair provided the bulk of the runs in England's 208/6.

David Warner clubbed 73 off 44 balls to keep Australia in the game.

Warner's dismissal put too much pressure on Australia's lower order in Perth and England closed out the game.

The left-arm seamer kept his cool to bowl Ellis for a duck as Australia needed 16 off the final over, but Sam Curran had Matthew Wade caught at mid-on and then had Ellis caught at deep mid-off as the Aussies were all out for 155.

England's batting dominance came with the caveat that Australia's attack was shorn of its frontline bowlers as Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood andAdam Zampa did not feature.

The way in which Buttler's bowlers held their nerve as they defended the total was impressive.

Hales seals his spot

One of the small selection quibbles was who would open the batting with Buttler in the tournament.

Hales' skill and experience on Australian pitches appeared to make him favourite to partner Buttler, despite Phil Salt's 167 runs against Hales in England's seven-game series with Pakistan.

Hales was back in the form which has seen him plunder runs in the Big Bash after showing a glimpse of his top-order dominance.

He was content to let Buttler take centre stage before he went through the gears himself, a tall and imposing figure at the crease, he used his long reach to good effect.

There was an element of fortune about a top-edged six pulled off Marcus Stoinis in the seventh over but a powerful lofted drive for another maximum down the ground underscored the importance of his hitting range.

He slogged one into the hands of Tim David before Kane Richardson. Hales had his head in his hands.

He had done enough and now looks set to open with Buttler for England in their World Cup opener against Afghanistan.

Mixed fortunes for Buttler and Stokes

Buttler averaged 17.16 in six T20s for England last summer with a top score of 29 compared to a career average of 32.50 before this match.

This was a statement from the England skipper, and a reminder of his talent, as he rested a troublesome calf.

The tone was set by Buttler's four fours from the opening over, sent down by Green, then his wrists of steel to whip the leg-spinner for consecutive sixes.

He was out in the 12th over, but England's white-ball captain looks to have rediscovered his batting form just at the right time.

Buttler's play was more fluid than that of Stokes.

The England Test skipper, playing his first T20 international since March 2021, was promoted to bat at three after a rip-roaring start by Buttler and Hales but stymied the momentum a touch.

Kane Richardson spilled a one-handed chance at mid-on after the England batter had miscued a chip down the ground.

A sense of how he was trying to force things came next ball when he attempted a reverse sweep and was hit on the helmet.

After getting a four off his eighth delivery, he was caught by Warner at long-on after skipping down the pitch.