New Delhi:
Australia won the Commonwealth Games gymnastics men's team gold on Monday, edging England into second with Canada taking bronze.
Australia, with a total of 259.050 points, went one better than their silver medal in Melbourne four years ago. England finished with 256.750 points and Canada on 248.500.
Prashanth Sellathurai of Australia said an early victory in Delhi was the perfect start for the team.
"Securing this gold medal on the first day sets things up well for us in the days ahead. It feels pretty good to have achieved this already, but we have a lot more work to do," he said.
"The equipment and the venue here are top quality, we certainly have no complaints about that. Delhi seems to be doing a good job."
Joshua Jefferis top-scored for the winning team with 85.350 points, with his best performances in the vault and parallel bars.
Fellow Australian Sam Offord said: "It was an amazing team effort. There was a lot in the media before we got here, but everything is great and well organised.
"We have had a blast, and winning this gold was brilliant."
In the six disciplines, Australia came first in five -- the floor exercise, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bars -- and came third in the pommel horse, which was won by silver-medal winners England.
"I'm absolutely delighted. I'm so happy with the team. We've all been working so hard for this," Danny Lawrence of England said. "I knew we could do it but it's about putting your hand up and actually doing it."
England coach Paul Hall said his team had performed well as some top gymnasts were missing Delhi to focus on the world championships opening in Rotterdam on October 16.
"We are very happy with that. It's fantastic to have a B-team, if you like, come here and a great job. We are proud that we did our job."
Australia and England, separated by just 2.3 points, battled through a tense finale which went right down to the wire -- but was played out in front of just a few dozen spectators in the 14,400-capacity gymnastics venue.
Third-placed Canada, who won the men's team gold in 2006, were followed in Monday's event by New Zealand and Wales, with host nation India finishing in sixth place.
The results means Australia, England and Canada have filled the podium at the men's team event in the last three Games.