Melbourne, January 12:

England were again outclassed by the Australians in the opening one-day international here on Friday, and suffered a double blow when star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the rest of the triangular series with a cracked rib.

Set a modest target of 243 runs to win by England after comeback captain Michael Vaughan elected to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia made 246 losing two wickets to cruise to a eight-wicket victory with 28 balls to spare.

Pietersen had been the one bright light for the English in a disastrous tour and he top-scored with 82 from 91 balls to help his side reach 242 for eight. But late in his innings, he was struck flush in the ribs by a Glenn McGrath delivery in the 40th over.

Pietersen’s injury capped another horrible day for the English, with 36-year-old wicketkeeper Paul Nixon making a forgettable debut with both bat and gloves and star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff conceding an ugly 11 wides in the first over of the Australian innings.

The loss means England remain winless since arriving in Australia in early November and have won just seven of their last 28 one-day internationals.

England’s total never looked enough, despite the efforts of Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (47 not out). Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist went on the attack early, hitting a rapid-fire 60 as part of a century partnership with recalled opener Matthew Hayden (28).

Gilchrist hit seven fours and a six from the 61 balls he faced. Hayden and Gilchrist put on 101 and brought up the Australian century in the 15th over, a milestone that the English took 24 overs to reach.

Although the introduction of spinners Monty Panesar and Jamie Dalrymple claimed the two openers and temporarily slowed the onslaught, England were never really back in the contest.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting (82 not out), who took a freak catch late in the England innings, and Michael Clarke (57 not out), then put on 133 for the third wicket to easily reach the victory target.

SCOREBOARD

England

A Strauss c Hayden b Bracken 12

M Vaughan c Hayden b Bracken 26

I Bell c Hussey b Johnson 15

K Pietersen c Symonds b Clark 82

P Collingwood c Johnson b McGrath 43

A Flintoff not out 47

P Nixon lbw b Johnson 0

J Dalrymple c Gilchrist b McGrath 2

J Lewis c Ponting b Bracken 9

M Panesar not out 0

Extras: 6 (1b, 1lb, 3w, 1nb)

Total: 242/8 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-20, 2-47, 3-74, 4-168, 5-206, 6-207, 7-211, 8-232

Australia bowling: McGrath 10-0-40-2, Bracken 9-0-46-3, Clark 10-0-58-1, Johnson 10-0-34-2, Clarke 8-0-35-0, White 3-0-27-0

AUSTRALIA

A Gilchrist c Nixon b Dalrymple 60

M Hayden st Nixon b Panesar 28

R Ponting not out 82

M Clarke not out 57

Extras: 19 (1b, 2lb, 15w, 1nb)

Total: 246/2 (45.2 overs)

FoW: 1-101, 2-118

England bowling: Flintoff 6-0-48-0, Lewis 8.2-1-43-0, Anderson 7-0-47-0, Panesar 10-1-46-1,

Dalrymple 10-1-38-1, Collingwood 4-0-21-0