Hales set for World Cup opening spot after match-winning 84 for England in Perth

Alex Hales has pencilled his name into England' s T 20 World Cup line-up as he starred in their tense eight-run victory over Australia in Perth.

With Jos Buttler returning to the side after a calf injury, Hales was preferred to Phil Salt as the England white-ball captain's opening partner for the first of three T20s against their Ashes rivals.

Hales struggled early on for fluency but gradually gained his footing and underpinned England's 208 for six with a knock of 84 off 51 balls, sharing a blistering 132-run stand in 11.2 overs with Buttler.

Their efforts went along way to the tourists' success as Australia slipped from 158 for three to fall short on 200 for nine, with David Warner's 73 off 44 balls in vain at the Optus Stadium.

And Butt l er confirmed Hal es, who has recently returned to the fold after more than three years in the international wilderness following a recreational drugs test failure, is set to open again when England return to this venue in a fortnight for their World Cup opener against Afghanistan.

"Things change quickly in sport but he' s got the first crack at it, at the minute," said Buttler, who revealed Hales was selected because of his pedigree in Australia' s Big Bash League. "It was a really tough call, we spent a lot of time debating it and thinking about it, and it was only really Alex's record in Australia that got him ahead.

"He's settled back in really well and he played fantastically well here. He's a really destructive player, he accesses all areas of the ground and he's intimidating to bowl at so it was great to watch at the other end."

Buttler, who himself sparkled with 68 off 32 balls, declined to appeal for an apparent obstruction in the field as an entertaining high-scoring contest neared its conclusion.

Confusion reigned as Matthew Wade top-edged into his helmet b efore app earing to block off Mark Wood as he ran towards attempting a return catch, but England winning took the sting out of any controversy.

"I was just looking at the ball," said Buttler.

"I didn't really see what happened. We've only just got to Australia so I thought just carry on in the game."