Eoin Morgan and Gary Ballance both hit half-centuries as England ended their innings in the one-day international with Australia on 269-7.
The tourists won the toss and choose to bat, but it proved to be one of the only causes for celebration in what was a dismal opening to the encounter for England in Melbourne.
Alastair Cook lasted four balls before bowler Clint McKay and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin combined to send the skipper back to the pavilion with just four runs under his belt.
It soon got worse for the visitors as Joe Root (3) followed his captain after an lbw from McKay, before Xavier Doherty bowled out Ian Bell.
Morgan proved a stubborn proposition at the crease and reached his 50 from 46 deliveries, before slicing Glen Maxwell's ball straight to Nathan Coulter-Nile to bring an end to his morning.
Ballance followed suit by recording his half-century - the first of his international career. Coulter-Nile then recorded his first wicket to catch out Ravi Bopara.
England ended the session with just three batsmen remaining after all-rounder Ben Stokes (21) was bowled out by James Faulker, before Ballance's resistance at the crease waned and was caught out by Doherty after slicing McKay's ball, leaving the field on 79 from 96.
Tim Bresnan and Jos Butler remained unbeaten for the tourists.
