The start of the 2015 Cricket World Cup got underway last night, and already the host nations have shown that they deserve to be regarded as two of the favourites for the tournament.
The performance of Australia has added another defeat to England's run of indifferent results at the start of the 50-over competition throughout the years, games which usually leave the team with it all to do to make the latter stages.
Below, Sports Mole takes a look at how England have fared in their opening matches during the past five tournaments.
1. 1996 World Cup - lost to New Zealand by 11 runs
Back in 1996, when India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka played host to the tournament, England had the honour of opening it with a game against New Zealand. The Black Caps were the form team going into the contest, but after England skipper Michael Atherton won the toss, they would have been confident of earning a morale-boosting win.
However, while a number of New Zealand batsmen underperformed, their innings was salvaged by Nathan Astle, who spent almost three hours in the middle to record 101 runs off 132 deliveries. It wasn't an overly aggressive knock but it stabilised New Zealand's innings as men fell around him. New Zealand would go on to score 239 off their 50 overs, with Graeme Hick the pick of the England bowlers with 2-45.
England were marginal favourites to record a successful run chase but the third-ball dismissal of Atherton didn't help matters. Alec Stewart and Hick put on 99 for the second wicket, but once Stewart departed for a pedestrian 34 off 71 balls, it was an uphill task. Neil Fairbrother hit a rapid 36 and Hick stuck around to make 85, but England left themselves with too much to do in the closing stages and eventually fell to a marginal defeat.
2. 1999 World Cup - beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets
Three years later when hosting the event, England needed a positive start against Sri Lanka to set the tone for their tournament. Despite not being considered as one of the favourites, the conditions suited their pace attack and it was evident from the opening game that they had the potential to take advantage.
Despite Sri Lanka starting solidly enough, their run-rate was always hovering around the four-per-over mark and regular wickets would keep them on the back foot. Alan Mullally struck three times to reduce the score to 65-5 and although Arjuna Ranatunga and Romesh Kaluwitharana put on 84 for the sixth wicket, England hit back strongly to bowl Sri Lanka out for 204 with eight balls to spare.
The run chase would prove to be a stroll for England, despite losing Nasser Hussain for 14. Stewart and Hick hit just eight fours and two sixes between them during a stand for 125 but it was all that was needed to ensure that England reached their target with 19 balls remaining.
3. 2003 World Cup - forfeit loss to Zimbabwe
England began their 2003 campaign in controversial circumstances. Due to the political situation in Zimbabwe and after receiving a death threat from a group calling themselves 'Sons and Daughters from Zimbabwe', the squad decided that they wouldn't travel to Harare for their opening match, a decision that was backed by the ECB.
It had been hoped that the game could be rearranged in South Africa, but the World Cup technical committee decided to hand the four points to Zimbabwe, which would play a huge part in England being eliminated before the Super Sixes.
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4. 2007 World Cup - Lost to New Zealand by six wickets
England made their way to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies full of hope rather than expectancy, and from the second ball in their opening match against New Zealand, it seemed like they were going to be up against it. Ed Joyce fell for a duck to immediately put his side on the back foot, and despite a 60 from Kevin Pietersen, England found themselves on 138-7 after 38.2 overs.
It was a dismal start, but through Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett, they at least retained some respectability after they put on an unbeaten eight-wicket stand of 71 to get England up to 209. It was unlikely to be enough, but James Anderson and Plunkett ripped through the New Zealand top order to leave them floundering on 19-3.
New Zealand regained their composure though, and an unbeaten 138-run stand between Scott Styris and Jacob Oram helped their team to victory with nine overs remaining. It set the mood for England's tournament, and although they reached the last eight, they would fail to defeat any of the teams who made it through to the last four.
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5. 2011 World Cup - Beat Netherlands by six wickets
After being drawn into the stronger of the two seven-team groups, England knew that they needed to start their 2011 tournament with a win against the Netherlands. However, it proved to be anything but plain sailing for Andrew Strauss's men, who saw their bowling attack taken apart by the big-hitting Ryan ten Doeschate, who hit 119 off 110 balls as his team registered 292-6 off their 50 overs.
It was a huge target but one that England should chase down. A run-a-ball 88 from Strauss ensured that England were in a comfortable position by the end of 30 overs, and after a 62 from Jonathan Trott left his side requiring 72 from the final 10 overs, Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara were able to get the team over the line with eight balls left.
However, the tournament would end on a sour note for England after they were thrashed by 10 wickets by Sri Lanka in the last eight.
