England v Pakistan, Headingley: Jonny Bairstow steps in for injured Jos Buttler

The record books took a battering in Nottingham, where England blasted a world record one-day global total of 444-3 and Alex Hales struck a record 171.

Pakistan’s stop-start innings got under way with an early wicket, Sharjeel Khan departing to a fine running catch by Ben Stokes after skewing a drive over extra-cover off Chris Jordan.

But the day belonged to Hales, Buttler and England’s new bold approach, which is paying dividends.

Azhar Ali, the Pakistan captain, made 80 and left-hander Imad Wasim an unbeaten 57 in this day/night fixture. Root then fell for 85 and it was up to Jos Buttler and captain Eoin Morgan to continue the demolition job that Hales and Root had begun.

The result was always going to be England’s once that huge score was posted, with Pakistan folding for 275 in 42.4 overs, handing the hosts a 169-run win.

“It’s been a tough few weeks personally”. “Irfan bowled well on his comeback but unfortunately his calf was cramping up. and we couldn’t break partnerships in that middle period”.

Hales’ 171 surpassed a 23-year-old previous best by an England batsman, Robin Smith’s 167 not out against Australia at Edgbaston.

Root is seeking to become the first player since Pakistan legend Javed Miandad to score six successive ODI half-centuries today.

Pakistan missed a good but hard chance when Stokes was dropped on 34.

“We realise there’s still a lot of improvement to make, we aren’t the finished article, and I think that showed in the first two games of the series – although we were winning we felt we could improve and we showed that”.

Wood has made a successful comeback in the 50-over format during the ongoing home series against Pakistan after a year’s hiatus and has picked up five wickets in the three One-Day Internationals.

But ahead of Thursday’s fourth one-day clash at Headingley against the same opposition, he insisted the sky’s the limit for the current team.

But they demonstrated England’s enviable strength in depth to help edge this much tighter contest following the Nottingham cakewalk.

Pakistan will now play the final two inconsequential ODIs against England in Leeds and Cardiff respectively.