England field as Fawad makes Australia debut

SOUTHAMPTON, England: England captain Stuart Broad won the toss and elected to field in the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Thursday as Australia gave an international debut to Fawad Ahmed.

Pakistan-born leg-spinner Ahmed, 31, is a former refugee who only became an Australian citizen last month but was given his chance at international level after impressing for Victoria in Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield.

England's side contained just two survivors from the side that competed a 3-0 Ashes Test series win at The Oval on Sunday in fast-medium bowler Broad and opening batsman Joe Root.

They omitted Michael Carberry, who was hoping to make a T20 international debut on his Hampshire home ground, despite the batsman's fine form in domestic Twenty20 cricket this season.

Australia's side had just three survivors from The Oval Test in opener David Warner, all-rounder Shane Watson and seamer James Faulkner.

It was on this ground eight years ago that England and Australia met for the first time in a Twenty20 international, with England winning by 100 runs.

Thursday's fixture was the first of a two-match series concluding in Durham on Saturday.

Next month England and Australia will meet in a separate five-match one-day international campaign.


England: Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Luke Wright, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wkt), Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Danny Briggs, Jade Dernbach

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wkt), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood, Fawad Ahmed

Umpires: Rob Bailey (ENG), Tim Robinson (ENG) TV umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)
(AFP)