Strauss reverses into trouble

Strauss and his opening partner Joe Denly had effortlessly moved the score along to 61 in the 14th over when the skipper attempted a reverse sweep off spinner Nathan Hauritz only to be given out leg before for 35 from 38 balls.

England reached the 15-over mark on 73 for one, with Denly (30 not out) joined by Ravi Bopara (8no), but Strauss' wicket will have frustrated the captain following a series where England's batting has proved their Achilles heel.

After Strauss had won the toss and elected to bat on an overcast afternoon, he and fellow opener Denly began watchfully batting out back-to-back maidens to start.

The first runs did not arrive until the 14th ball of the innings when Peter Siddle, called up for just his second ODI in place of the rested Brett Lee, pitched short and Strauss pulled him through mid-wicket for two.

Denly had faced 10 balls before he got his first run, a glance to fine leg off Nathan Bracken as England mustered just four runs from the opening four overs.

But from there the run flowed, with Strauss finding the boundary three times in a Siddle over.

Bracken conceded as many in the next, with Strauss placing a back-foot cut narrowly wide of a diving Michael Clarke at gully.

But with the pair apparently in control Strauss was sent packing in the most frustrating of circumstances.