England's World Cup preparations suffered an early setback yesterday when it was beaten by three wickets by Australia in the first tri-series one-day cricket international.

Opener David Warner crashed 127 from 115 balls to drive Australia past England's total of 234, with more than 10 overs remaining in a one-sided match at the Sydney Cricket Ground that began with England's decision to bat upon winning the toss.

England lost two wickets without scoring in the first over, and depended on a captain's knock of 121 from 136 balls by Eoin Morgan to produce a total of 234 in 47.5 overs.

Warner impelled Australia to its winning target with a century from 97 balls - his third in one-day internationals and his first since March 2012.

England couldn't overcome the setback of losing two wickets to the first three balls of the match, and struggled to set Australia a total that was likely to stretch it on a pitch Morgan called "a bit used" when he won the toss.

Morgan's seventh ODI century - his sixth for England and his first since he took over from Alastair Cook as captain - gave substance to its innings, but the early blows struck by Australia's pace attack proved mortal in a match finally decided by the innings of Morgan and Warner.

Australia's bowlers, especially James Faulkner and spinner Xavier Doherty, contained England through the middle of its innings while Starc assumed a strike role at the start and at the death.

After dismissing the first two England batsmen in the opening over, he returned to remove Morgan and Steve Finn and to finish with 4-42 from 8.5 overs.

The next tri-series match between Australia and India is at Melbourne tomorrow.