England handed final humiliation

"As long as my players felt they did their best then it is not a low moment. You would have to ask each player but I think they did give their best."

If England can win the second match, in Melbourne on Saturday, and take this final to a third match, sport will have witnessed one of its more amazing turnarounds. But don't bet on it after such a devastating demolition.

"In one-day cricket, things change from day to day and you can beat any side," added Hussain in a brave attempt to remain upbeat. "Obviously we have to improve quite a bit to beat Australia."

To put it mildly. England's lowest one-day total ever after choosing to bat first would have been smaller still but for a fighting 43 from Paul Collingwood.

But the sheer ferocity of the reply rubbed a mountain of salt into gaping wounds. At one stage, Gilchrist hammered seven fours in eight balls from Andrew Caddick and Jimmy Anderson before easing back just a fraction.

Lee, bowling at whirlwind pace on a quick, bouncy pitch, put Hussain's side on the road to ruin. Then Brad Williams and Andy Bichel stormed through the breached defences.

Shane Warne, making his comeback from a shoulder injury, struck only once - having Collingwood stumped off his final delivery. But with keeper Gilchrist equalling a world record by claiming six victims there was more than enough for Australians to cheer.

"To bat the way we did was awesome," said home captain Ricky Ponting. "But it was all set up with the ball early on.

Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick had put together a stand of 101 against Australia here in mid-December. They were fortunate to get the one this time before the slide to defeat began.

In theory, England's established opening pair were confronted by a couple of new-ball reserves with Williams and Lee deputising for Glenn McGrath (back strain) and Jason Gillespie (sore elbow). In reality, they had walked into a storm and neither they, nor those who followed, could escape

Lee, bowling at around 95mph and gaining sideways movement as well as disconcerting bounce, took care of both openers inside his first three overs.

Trescothick tried to rise with a sharply-lifting delivery outside offstump but simply gloved a catch behind. Then Knight did something similar, though this time down leg-side.

At 11 for two, the situation already looked grim for England - and Hussain and Alec Stewart were soon back in the dressing-room as well.

England's skipper played on against a ball that jagged into him before Stewart bottom-edged a Williams delivery on to his pad and up to Gilchrist.

Then it was Bichel's turn. He pinned Michael Vaughan in front to end 78 minutes of defiance, then condemned Ian Blackwell to a third consecutive duck with a lifter that was weakly poked to slip.

Thereafter, only Collingwood - with a bit of help from Ronnie Irani and Caddick - prolonged the agony.