Chris Woakes has become the fourth player to admit he is not yet able to commit to the tour – although he stressed Dickason’s reassurances do carry weight with the team, and confirmed discussions are ongoing even through the current series with European Central Bank director Andrew Strauss and others.
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Jason Roy was very well-caught low down at second slip by Mohammad Rizwan off Mohammad Irfan, and Alex Hales – England’s record-breaker in chief with his new benchmark 171 two days ago – edged behind pushing forward, after the tall left-armer went round the wicket to avoid a final warning for running on the pitch.
The record books took a battering in Nottingham, where England blasted a world record one-day worldwide total of 444-3 and Alex Hales struck a record 171.
It was the latest astonishing feat from a team that began the revival against New Zealand last summer, during a series in which they passed 400 for the first time and then recorded their highest successful ODI chase, also at Trent Bridge.
Azhar Ali, the Pakistan captain, led from the front with 80 but his side were still held to 247 for 8 by England in the fourth One-Day International at Headingley on Thursday (September 1). Mohammad Nawaz and Sarfraz Ahmed attempted to stabilise the Pakistani innings but could not stop the fall of wickets which soon saw Pakistan reduced to 199 for 9 with Woakes the chief destroyer picking up four wickets.
“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”. Hopefully that can continue. “It still wasn’t flawless, probably the ideal performance with the bat, but still things to work on”.
Gul, off the penultimate ball of the innings, also hit Willey for six but Pakistan now needed a special display in the field to prevent another England win. “Just an unbelievable day, really, to set a world record is phenomenal”.
“It was just an wonderful day really”.
Despite losing an early wicket, opener Alex Hales stormed his way past the highest individual ODI score made by an Englishman.
Pakistan were forced to bat aggressively but their batsmen struggled to build partnerships as they were bowled out for 279. “All I can do is try to score as many runs as I can in the remaining games and keep myself in contention for that spot.” said Hales. “I hope not as a bowler”.
“When I heard the cheer going round the ground I knew something was happening, but at the time I was unaware”, he added of the moment he broke Smith’s longstanding record.
“It’s a tricky one”, he said.
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It was not until he had a run-a-ball 50 under his belt that Stokes picked out deep midwicket off Imad – and if any fresh doubts were briefly sown, Bairstow ensured they did not last long.
