KENT wicketkeeper Geraint Jones helped England get the summer battle against Australia off to the perfect start at Hampshire's Rose Bowl on Monday.

Jones was selected in the side that convincingly won the first ever Twenty20 international played in this country by 100 runs.

He opened the batting with Michael Trescothick and his quick-fire 19 runs from 14 balls gave England a solid start as they posted an impressive total of 179 for 8 from their 20 overs.

It was always going to be a tough score for the Australians to better, but England's bowlers tore into their top order and reduced the tourists to 31 for 7 at one point, Jones taking a catch behind the stumps to help dismiss Michael Clarke for a duck.

Australia's tail wagged briefly in the form of Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, but the visitors were eventually skittled out for 79.