Top 5 batting performances in England's ODI history

#3 Robin Smith - 167* (163) against Australia, 1993

Robin Smith's sublime knock could not prevent Australia from winning the match

When Australia toured England in the summer of 1993, the 3-match ODI series served as precursor to the fabled Ashes contests. After losing the opening game by a mere four runs, the hosts were under pressure to keep the ODI series alive as the caravan moved to Edgbaston for the second 55-over encounter. With conditions ripe for swing bowling, the visitors decided to insert their opponents on a dicey track.

The dynamic Alec Stewart departed early for a five-ball duck. Coming in at number three, Robin Smith allayed England's concerns by getting on top of Australia's bowlers. He smartly played out the probing new-ball spells of Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes. The right-hander proceeded to take full toll of the medium pacers.

He hammered 17 boundaries and 3 sixes in his unbeaten 167 off 163 balls. While England lost the match as well as the series, Smith's epoch-making knock remained the country's best in ODIs until Alex Hales and then Jason Roy usurped the record in easier conditions for batting.