3 minute read

England batsman Jonny Bairstow says matching his side's ultra-aggressive approach to ODI batting is easier said than done.

Jonny Bairstow has invited Australia to follow their ways at their peril as the Englishman revealed his side's intention to keep raising the bar ahead of a home World Cup in 2019.

England became the first team to successfully chase a 300-plus total at the MCG on Sunday, continuing Australia's ODI slump since claiming the World Cup in 2015.

England were thrown out of that tournament in the group stages, but have reinvented themselves to become a powerhouse of the 50-over format.

They now boast five successful chases of 300 or more since, a dramatic achievement given it had only happened twice previously.

England's rise hasn't been lost on Australian captain Steve Smith, who conceded after Sunday's loss that adopting England's ultra-aggressive approach to batting may be an option.

While Bairstow took it as a compliment, the destructive batsman was quick to point out that mirroring any opposition tactics was easier said than done.

"It's a good thing that they're looking at the way we're playing because that means we're obviously doing something right," he said.

"But it's an individual team thing isn't it. If they go out and copy what we do it might not work for them.

"There's people that you've got to have in your team in order to go out and score those 300s, 350s and 400s that we have done.

Bairstow said the feeling in the dressing room now was that no total was out of reach and that records were not insurmountable.

"What is the bar? I think the bar's going up all the time," he said.

"You want to be taking it onto the next level.

"Having the fearlessness to say ... there's no reason to say we can't."

Australian opener David Warner admitted England had every right to be confident ahead of a home World Cup.

"They are setting the benchmark at the moment," he said.

"They've played a different brand of cricket for the last 12 months and been more aggressive up top and with the ball now have a bit of pace as well.

"They've obviously got a great balance and then you add Ben Stokes to the mix as well."