Can they smash the 500 barrier?
AFTER POSTING the biggest total in the history of one-day internationals, there is just one question left for this England side to answer – what is the limit of their potential?
Alex Hales, whose 171 at Trent Bridge on Wednesday was the highest individual ODI score by an England batsman, tried his best to answer the question in the aftermath of his side’s 169-run win against Pakistan.
Victory was set up by a mammoth 444-3 that eclipsed the previous record total of 443-9 set by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands in 2006.
“The way we’re moving forward as a team, who knows how long that record will last?” said Hales. “There are batsmen all the way down to No11 who can clear the ropes.
“The way we’re progressing as a batting unit, we haven’t reached our peak yet. There are a lot of guys in their midtwenties whose best years are still to come.” Scoring big runs has become a matter of course for this exciting team, who have been liberated by the encouragement of coach Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace, his assistant, to free their minds and their shoulders.
It is in stark contrast to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 18 months ago, when under the unimaginative leadership of Peter Moores, Bayliss’s predecessor, they crashed out in the first round following a humiliating defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide.
Now, three years out from the next World Cup, England will be realistic contenders for the tournament on home soil if they can continue their astonishing progress.
Next year’s Champions Trophy, also in England, will give this side an opportunity to land the one honour that has so far eluded them – a major global 50-over title.
For Chris Woakes, part of the team who failed so spectacularly in the last World Cup, England’s transformation is hard to believe.
“It’s credit to the way the guys have played, the way it’s led from the coach, the captain and all the way through,” said Woakes.
“We are encouraged to play our natural games. But we do have to pinch ourselves a little because the improvements have been dramatic.”
As for how far England can go in terms of big totals, is 500 – a score that would have seemed preposterous even a year go – now possible for this side?
“Who knows?” said Woakes. “If the boys keep batting the way they are you can never say never, but it would be a freakish day.”
Next stop in this series, with England 3-0 up with just two games to play, is today at Headingley.
Given the form they are in right now, surely only the weather can deny them.