Australia have opened their bid for the world teams croquet title with a humbling 16-5 loss to defending champions England in Christchurch.
The English cruised to victory in the opening leg of the MacRobertson Shield Test series, while New Zealand crushed the United States 20-1 in their five-day contest at the United Croquet Club.
The MacRobertson Shield is competed for every three to four years, and only England and New Zealand have held the trophy since World War II.
New Zealand boast world No.1 Chris Clarke and the strongest line-up on paper of the four nations in action at the 2014 event, but their last success came in 1986 with England winning the seven MacRobertson Shield tournaments since then.
The second round, with New Zealand up against Australia, begins in Hawke's Bay on Sunday.
Australia then face the US on January 11-15.
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