After the Ashes Test-Series, which Australia lost 2-3, the two nations played the only T20 game at Cardiff on August 31 and England held their nerves to eke out a 5-run victory. The 5-match ODI series began soon afterwards. In the first ODI on September 3, Australia scored an emphatic 59-run win over England at Rose Bowl, Southampton and followed that up with a similar 64-run victory at Lords in the second ODI. England took their revenge with a 93-run victory at Old Trafford Manchester