5th over: England 23-0 (Salt 10, Duckett 12) Abbott replaces Hardie and Duckett steps into a decent drive only for the bowler to grab in follow-through. No matter: after a wide ball, another widish ball and he’s on to it in a trice, playing it down through cover for four, then after three dots, another cross-batter into the covers earns three. Eight off the over, the most expensive of the innings so far.

4th over: England 15-0 (Salt 10, Duckett 5) Which nation has the best gear? Australia’s is obviously iconic, but I’m not sure one can ever accept yellow trousers, so I guess I’m going for West Indies, not just because I want to post this Carl Hooper catch. Anyhow, back in the middle, Salt edges again and they take two to deep square, then two singles follow. This has been impressive from Australia’s two young quicks.

3rd over: England 11-0 (Salt 7, Duckett 4) Both these batters adore width, and Australia’s lines have been pretty straight so far. The over opens with three dots, then Duckett mistimes a drive through cover for two and does likewise next ball for a single, before Salt dabs into the same area and they add one more. Good start from Australia.

2nd over: England 7-0 (Salt 6, Duckett 1) The left-arm Dwarshius will open from the other end, moustache bristling, and Salt applies a more central part of bat to his first two deliveries, then edges one that leaves him, the ball dropping short of slip thanks to his deployment of soft hands. But the next delivery is vintage Salt, flinging hands at a wider one to deposit four through cover, and Australia will know that’s exactly where not to bowl to him.

1st over: England 3-0 (Salt 2, Duckett 1) Bit of away-swing first up and Salt plays and misses outside off, then edges into the off-side for one looking to play to leg. Duckett, of course, introduces bat to ball immediately, tapping one to point then, facing the final delivery of the over, Salt again looks to turn around the corner, again edges, and the ball drops just short of the diving Smith at backward point and they run one.

Looking at these two batting lineups, the sense is that it should be impossible for either to be dismissed without someone doing something significant; well, here we go, Aaron Hardie with the ball and Phil Salt facing.

Teams!

Archer tells Athers that he is sort of thinking about making the Ashes but the most important thing is today. He doesn’t know Brook well but says the new skip is a really nice guy and they’ve been chatting a lot this week.

Oh, Reece Topley is ill so Matt Potts plays.

Stuart Broad, dressed down in jacket-coat affair, rhapsodises Duckett who he thinks is now one of the best limited-overs players in the world. I’m looking forward to seeing how he, and the rest of England’s top four, do on a belter that comes with inviting short boundaries.

Full XIs to come, but Australia have had some illness in the camp and Glen Maxwell is missing.

Mitch Marsh says Australia would’ve bowled and that Benny Dwarshius, “an incredible talent”, makes his d’boo. He’s trying to teach his players the importance of enjoying playing, especially in England where the crowds are big, then notes that Zampa, winning his hundredth ODI cap, is a “beautiful human being”. You’d take that as a reference, eh?

England win the toss and will bat

Toss time…

England are playing Australia #PeripateticLawnmower

Also, what is it with sport and banal, frequently hashtagged phrases that don’t actually make sense? Send in your favourites…

What’s the latest into autumn it’s acceptable to wear shorts? I’m a November or so man, but with the cricket going so deep, perhaps that needs revising down – or up – to December.

Cricinfo report that Phil Salt has presented Bethell with his England cap, so he’ll be making his debut today; lovely stuff.

If i’m not mistaken, this call comes from the Guardian’s Adam Collins. Imagine the aggro Worrall, in the process of converting from Australia to England, will get at the Gabba when – and it does feel like a when – he’s selected for an Ashes tour.

Of course there’s plenty more going on. England, captained by Harry Brook, are in transition, with Jacob Bethell a particularly tasty new option, while Australia also have various new and newish faces in their squad – most notably Mahli Beardman. Add to that the old rivalries, most notably Archer v Smith, and there’s plenty to distract us from whatever else we’re supposed to be doing.

Preamble