Shane Watson blasted an unbeaten 161 to lead Australia to a six-wicket win against England in the first of the five-match ODI series
Kevin Pietersen marked his return to England's one-day team with his first half-century in more than two years as the tourists posted their highest total against Australia on the world champions' home soil in Melbourne.
Pietersen was back in the side after being dropped for the summer series against Pakistan and hit 78 from 75 balls as England posted 294 all out.
The half-century was Pietersen's first since his unbeaten 111 against India in November 2008 and proved a timely reminder of his talents ahead of next month's World Cup on the sub-continent.
Skipper Andrew Strauss also weighed in with 63 while fellow opener Steve Davies added 42 after he was afforded four lives following another sloppy Australia performance in the field.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was the chief culprit, missing three stumpings including a routine chance to dismiss Pietersen when he was on 37.
Paul Collingwood paid for his poor run of form as he was left out to cast some doubt over his inclusion in the 15-man World Cup squad to be announced on Wednesday.
In his absence Pietersen returned while Chris Tremlett made his first ODI appearance since June 2008.
Australia made a late change with Shaun Tait forced out of the team named yesterday with a back complaint.
That meant Mitchell Johnson was included but he, as well as Australia's other quicks, struggled early on a wicket suited to the slower bowlers.
England's quick progress was, however, also aided by an error-strewn Australia display that afforded Davies four let-offs in the opening eight overs.
A comedy of errors allowed the wicketkeeper-batsman to survive a run-out without facing a ball before he was caught hooking Brett Lee, only for a no-ball to be called after umpire Bruce Oxenford's review.
Another dropped chance and the first of Haddin's three missed stumpings followed in a peculiar start that saw Davies and Strauss otherwise profit on some wayward new-ball bowling.
The pair put on 90 from 74 balls before Davies' luck eventually ran out when he missed a swipe off David Hussey's part-time spin to be bowled for a 35-ball 42.
Hussey, looking to push his claims for a World Cup spot, struck again in his next over when Jonathan Trott (six) feathered a catch through to Haddin.
England were fortunate not to lose a third quick wicket when Haddin botched a routine stumping with Strauss on 48.
That allowed the skipper to reach his 25th ODI half-century, from 51 balls, but just as he looked to anchor his side through the middle overs he spooned Lee to Michael Clarke at mid-wicket for 63.
England's batsmen had fallen to the same type of catches in the inner ring in Friday's Twenty20 defeat and the problems arose again in the middle overs.
Ian Bell (23) and Eoin Morgan (eight) both picked out cover off Steve Smith's leg-spin and left the tourists on 186 for five in the 33rd over.
Pietersen then should have followed only for Haddin's calamitous day to allow him a second chance he fully took advantage of.
The right-hander immediately clubbed David Hussey for back-to-back straight sixes to bring up his first 50 in 17 ODI innings.
Another straight maximum off Xavier Doherty followed and with Pietersen in full flow, the lower order needed only to stay with him.
Michael Yardy (nine), however, was also out to a soft dismissal, hooking Doug Bollinger before Australia claimed the key wicket of Pietersen to a superb run-out from Johnson at the start of the batting powerplay.
After setting off for a quick single from the non-striker's end Pietersen was caught short as Johnson raced from his follow-through to kick the ball onto the stumps.
Despite that England's tail were able to supply enough late hitting to get them to their record total and set up what would be a record chase at the MCG.
Teams
Pietersen was back in the side after being dropped for the summer series against Pakistan and hit 78 from 75 balls as England posted 294 all out.
The half-century was Pietersen's first since his unbeaten 111 against India in November 2008 and proved a timely reminder of his talents ahead of next month's World Cup on the sub-continent.
Skipper Andrew Strauss also weighed in with 63 while fellow opener Steve Davies added 42 after he was afforded four lives following another sloppy Australia performance in the field.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was the chief culprit, missing three stumpings including a routine chance to dismiss Pietersen when he was on 37.
Paul Collingwood paid for his poor run of form as he was left out to cast some doubt over his inclusion in the 15-man World Cup squad to be announced on Wednesday.
In his absence Pietersen returned while Chris Tremlett made his first ODI appearance since June 2008.
Australia made a late change with Shaun Tait forced out of the team named yesterday with a back complaint.
That meant Mitchell Johnson was included but he, as well as Australia's other quicks, struggled early on a wicket suited to the slower bowlers.
England's quick progress was, however, also aided by an error-strewn Australia display that afforded Davies four let-offs in the opening eight overs.
A comedy of errors allowed the wicketkeeper-batsman to survive a run-out without facing a ball before he was caught hooking Brett Lee, only for a no-ball to be called after umpire Bruce Oxenford's review.
Another dropped chance and the first of Haddin's three missed stumpings followed in a peculiar start that saw Davies and Strauss otherwise profit on some wayward new-ball bowling.
The pair put on 90 from 74 balls before Davies' luck eventually ran out when he missed a swipe off David Hussey's part-time spin to be bowled for a 35-ball 42.
Hussey, looking to push his claims for a World Cup spot, struck again in his next over when Jonathan Trott (six) feathered a catch through to Haddin.
England were fortunate not to lose a third quick wicket when Haddin botched a routine stumping with Strauss on 48.
That allowed the skipper to reach his 25th ODI half-century, from 51 balls, but just as he looked to anchor his side through the middle overs he spooned Lee to Michael Clarke at mid-wicket for 63.
England's batsmen had fallen to the same type of catches in the inner ring in Friday's Twenty20 defeat and the problems arose again in the middle overs.
Ian Bell (23) and Eoin Morgan (eight) both picked out cover off Steve Smith's leg-spin and left the tourists on 186 for five in the 33rd over.
Pietersen then should have followed only for Haddin's calamitous day to allow him a second chance he fully took advantage of.
The right-hander immediately clubbed David Hussey for back-to-back straight sixes to bring up his first 50 in 17 ODI innings.
Another straight maximum off Xavier Doherty followed and with Pietersen in full flow, the lower order needed only to stay with him.
Michael Yardy (nine), however, was also out to a soft dismissal, hooking Doug Bollinger before Australia claimed the key wicket of Pietersen to a superb run-out from Johnson at the start of the batting powerplay.
After setting off for a quick single from the non-striker's end Pietersen was caught short as Johnson raced from his follow-through to kick the ball onto the stumps.
Despite that England's tail were able to supply enough late hitting to get them to their record total and set up what would be a record chase at the MCG.
Teams
England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Steven Davies (wk), Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Michael Yardy, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Tremlett
Australia: SR Watson, BJ Haddin (wk), MJ Clarke (capt), CL White, DJ Hussey, MEK Hussey, SPD Smith, MG Johnson, XJ Doherty, B Lee, DE Bollinger
