Luke Doerner's fierce penalty corner gave the Australians a sixth-minute lead and Des Abbot added a second a minute later to leave England facing an uphill task.

Jason Wilson (pictured) added a third for Australia in the 14th minute and, after rain delayed the start of the second half by almost an hour, the world player of the year Jamie Dwyer made it four to give Australia their third consecutive Champions Trophy title.

The England Hockey assistant coach Bobby Crutchley took plenty of positives from England's best finish at the tournament.

"It's been pleasing to come here with some inexperienced players who have played very well," he said.

"We started slowly [today] and if you start slowly against Australia they punish you.

"They're the best team around.

"Even then we did cause them some trouble towards the end of the first half

"It's our first ever medal in the Champions Trophy and we'll just have to go one better next time."

Despite the defeat it is the first time a British team has won a Champions Trophy medal since Britain came second in 1985.

Last year's victory in the European Championships and a fourth-place finish in the World Cup this year build a strong picture ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London.

England Hockey called it "the greatest performance since winning Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988".

They move up two places to fourth in the world rankings after the tournament.

Australia has lost only once to England in a competitive match in 35 years and the Kookaburras were heavy favourites.

England had never previously finished higher than fifth in the tournament.

Australia also won a hat trick of trophy titles from 1983-1985.

"Six matches, six wins - if you have told me that before the tournament, I would have been very happy," Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth said.

"I know how difficult this tournament is.

"We came here with the most inexperienced team.

"That’s good because we deepen in the belief in our young players that they can play at this level.

""My view is that every game we play I see more things we can improve.

"We have to be vigilant about that.

"If not, there might be a better team in a year’s time."

Eight-time champion Netherlands beat Olympic champion Germany 4-1 in the third-place playoff.

Teun de Nooijer scored twice for the Netherlands to move second in all-time Champions Trophy scorers.

De Nooijer has 42 goals, behind countryman Taeke Taekema with 45.


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August 2010: England reach final of Champions Trophy