Stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff insisted England had thrown everything at Australia after going down by four wickets at the Gabba in Brisbane.

A fighting display in the field gave the tourists a sniff of victory, despite only posting 155, and but for an escape for man-of-the-match Michael Hussey they may have pulled it off.

Hussey had scored only 19 of his unbeaten 46 when England appealed for caught behind, only for home umpire Daryl Harper to turn them down. Television technology later suggested there had been a nick.

Australia were still 53 runs from victory at the time and facing some outstanding fast bowling.

"Obviously I am disappointed we have lost but I was pleased with the second half," said Flintoff.

"When you are defending 150-odd it is going to be tough and you need something special.

"I thought Jimmy Anderson (two for 29) was outstanding, swinging the ball at pace, and Jon Lewis (four for 36) too is reliable in what he does.

"The lads gave it everything all the way through and you can't ask for anything more."

Hussey, rated the world's best one-day batsman, was surrounded by England's players in that 30th-over incident and claims he was spurred on by the chat coming from the opposition.

"I am not a walker like Gilly (Adam Gilchrist)," said Hussey, when asked how far he was away from hitting the ball.

"If he nicks the ball, he walks, I take the good decisions with the bad ones. I leave it up to the umpires to make the decisions and I think, generally, they do a very good job."

It stirred the usually quiet Anderson into a response and Hussey recalled: "I think he said you've hit that, you should be walking'. I just said I don't walk'."

Veteran wicketkeeper Paul Nixon had the most to say, however, and Hussey added: "There's so much coming out of his mouth, I can't hear it all. It is very motivating and makes you want to be there at the end."

Flintoff was diplomatic in his view of the incident and said: "There's not a lot you can do about it.

"You hope a few go your way and, if they don't, you get on with it. You always want to get Hussey out as he's a good finisher."

Only debutant Mal Loye flourished of the England top order, top-scoring with 36, to leave the bowling unit with plenty to do.

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