Australia all-rounder James Hopes believes the tourists have halted England's Ashes momentum after opening the ODIs with a win.

The four-run victory at The Oval sends Australia into Sunday's second match at Lord's 1-0 ahead in the seven-match campaign.

"It stops the spiral"

The Australians were mindful of derailing England early on in the limited-overs contests with the hosts already on the crest of a wave following the 2-1 Test win.

"For us it was very important," said Hopes. "It stops the spiral. If we'd started off with a loss it could have been 'here we go again'.

"But we've kick-started the one-day series again and now Sunday becomes very important. It's a short turnaround between games, so the first hour and a half will be very important."

Hopes, who has become a permanent fixture in world champions Australia's one-day team over the past two years, provided impetus with both bat and ball on Friday.

His unbeaten 18, off just 12 deliveries, helped the Australians to 260 for five and he then sent down an economical spell of 5-1-14-0 to escalate England's required run rate.

Having lost to world number one side South Africa both home and away earlier this year, Australia have learned one-day internationals can be snatched away by opponents late in the piece.

But despite a late rally from England's lower order, they held on this time to extend the winning sequence developed with a 3-2 win over Pakistan in between.

"We are full of confidence"

"We thought we were in control, but always at the back of our minds was what happened against South Africa a couple of times when we thought we were in a pretty good position and then they'd take the batting powerplay and come over us at the end," said Hopes.

"We are pleased to come out with a win, it doesn't matter by how much, four runs is enough, and we are full of confidence."

Just as in the Ashes, however, there appears to be little between England and Australia in the 50-over format.

"We have very similar make-ups in our teams," Queenslander Hopes, 30, said.

"We have a lot of guys who bat and lots who bowl so you will see a lot of games like Friday night.

"You can have a team six down and they can still score seven an over. Some other teams you get six or seven down and you are virtually home.

"I think you consider England to have more fight in them at the moment partly because they have just won the Ashes.

"They are going to have a bit more momentum than us at the moment, but hopefully we got a bit of that back last night."

England vs. Australia ODIs at Lord's:
 
Played: 9 Won by England: 4, Won by Australia: 4  Tied: 1
 
Last 5 ODIs between the two countries at Lord's:
 
Date         Toss    Result
 
29.5.1989  Eng     Australia won by 6 wickets
23.5.1993  Eng     Australa  won by 19 runs
25.5.1997  Eng     England   won by 6 wickets
2.7.2005    Eng     Tied
10.7.2005  Aus     Australia won by 7 wickets

Click here to vote for the Greatest ODI Batsman