In recent years, record-breaking feats by England batsmen have become almost routine.
Since Eoin Morgan spearheaded a limited-overs revolution after the 2015 Cricket World Cup, England’s One-Day International side have scored in excess of 400 on four occasions, having only twice come within 50 runs of the mark before.
Never was this fearless approach better demonstrated than when Alex Hales smashed 171 on his home ground as part of a team total of 444-3 against Pakistan – a new world record.
England would go on to break the record again in Nottingham against Australia in 2018, but these were just the latest entries in an illustrious one-day record for the side at Trent Bridge.
Mention England v Pakistan in 1992 to any cricket fan, and it is likely to dredge up painful memories of that year’s World Cup final.
Over 85,000 people filled the MCG as England made a perfect start to the biggest one-day game in their history, dismissing both Pakistan openers cheaply.
But Imran Khan’s half-century allowed Pakistan to set a total which proved out of the reach of Graham Gooch’s side.
It remains the closest England have got to winning the World Cup.
But just five months later, they were able to exact a modicum of revenge on their opponents – and set a world record in the process.
On a late summer’s day in West Bridgford, Pakistan put the hosts in to bat, and were immediately left rueing their decision as the game – and the series – slipped out of reach.
This was not a day for the brutality that typifies one-day cricket in 2019.
Just seven sixes were hit in the innings, and not one of the English batsmen would have the opportunity to raise his bat on reaching three figures.
But strong contributions through the order – 42 from Gooch, 62 from Neil Fairbrother, 63 from Graeme Hick and a scene-stealing 77 from Robin Smith – allowed the home side to post 363-7.
It beat the previous national record set on the opening day of the 1975 World Cup by almost 60 runs, and edged past the Viv Richards-inspired total of 360 set by West Indies against Sri Lanka in 1987.
In the context of the modern game, 363 may not be a noteworthy total, but it stood as the world record for four more years, and as the national record until 2005.
391-4 would be the new high-water mark for English one-day cricket, set against Bangladesh. The venue? Trent Bridge – as it would be for England’s two record-breaking scores in 2016 and 2018.
Whether it is the pitch, the ground, or the weight of history which is spurring players on to record-breaking feats at Trent Bridge is open to debate.
But what seems certain is that if further records are to be broken – and if any team is ever to score 500 in a One Day International – Nottingham may well be the city which plays host once again.
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