England beat Australia 3-2 to secure their first win over the Kookaburras since 1985 and open their World Cup campaign in style in India.
Jamie Dwyer gave Australia the lead but set-piece expert Ashley Jackson soon levelled the Pool B match in Delhi.
James Tindall put England ahead before half-time from a short corner.
Tindall followed up to score off a post and make it 3-1 and although Dwyer pulled one back, England held on thanks to an heroic defensive display.
Going into the game Australia had won 28 of the last 33 matches between the two sides, with five draws.
But England, whose most recent win over their Ashes rivals had come on grass in Melbourne in 1985, produced a superb rearguard action to sink the pre-tournament favourites.
The Kookaburras had 12 penalty corners but only scored once as Cannock goalkeeper James Fair excelled, while England were ruthless in netting twice from three penalty corners.
Manager Andy Halliday praised the efforts of Fair and his penalty corner defence team, but admitted his side had been outplayed.
"It was a fantastic result but the performance could have been so much better," said Halliday.
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