England cricket over the last 23 years has cherished one record that no English cricketer dare to break.
In 1992 England batsman Robin Smith has scored a 162 ball 163 against Australia in a 55 over match which is still the highest individual score.
England’s current opener Jason Roy has scored an 118 ball 162 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday at the Oval but failed to break the record.
The holder of the record Robin Smith admits he is “flabbergasted” no one has beaten his one-day best of 167 but believes it will break anytime soon.
The 52 year, who now lives in Australia, faced 163 balls for his mammoth score. He has hit three sixes of Paul Reiffel who was the TV umpire during Roy’s 162.
“I’m absolutely flabbergasted that record still stands,” said Smith before the final ODI between England and Sri Lanka.
“With the quality of players to have represented England since my retirement, I’m very surprised I’ve still got it.
“One thing I do know is that whoever breaks the record will have had to play magnificently, especially with the strike-rates now. To play attacking cricket like that throughout an innings to get past 167 will have been a fantastic knock.”
Roy’s innings was studded with sixes and fours and different from Smith at Edgbaston.
“There have been some wonderful players and I look at the scorecard after every game and am surprised one of them hasn’t passed me – but it is just around the corner.
“I hope one of the guys on the side does it in the near future because there are a few of them capable of doing it and records are there to be broken.
“It is something I will gladly pass on.
Roy in recent time has become England prolific opener. He and Alex Hales has broken the highest ever century partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.