Rival captains Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan both played down the impact of England's 100-run Twenty20 win against Australia in Southampton on Monday, each man stressing it was no indication of how either the one-day series or the Ashes would pan out.
Ponting in particular insisted it would be a different Australia side that took the field for its triangular series openers against Bangladesh and England this weekend in Cardiff and Bristol respectively.
"I think it's that sort of game Twenty20. So much happens that wouldn't normally happen in a 50-over game so I don't think the result of today's game will do them any good and probably won't do us any harm," Ponting told reporters after Monday's Rose Bowl rout.
Australia, chasing 180 to win, were bowled out for 79 in just 14.3 overs with only Jason Gillespie (24), Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee (both 15) making it into double figures.
All-rounder Paul Collingwood led England to a total of 179 for eight with 46 off 26 balls, before taking two for eight with his medium-pacers.
It was a dramatic start to Twenty20 international cricket for England, now ranked No. 2 in the world Test rankings behind their oldest foes.
And it was also their second successive one-day win against Australia after a six-wicket success in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston in September.
"It's not the ideal start for us," said Ponting, whose side came into the game on the back of a 95-run thrashing of Leicestershire.
Ponting, whose team now have a chance to regroup against Somerset in Taunton today, insisted the only long-term impact of the Twenty20 would be a positive one for Australia.
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