Top 5 blistering hundreds in 2016 in ODIs

#5 Alex Hales, 171(122) vs Pakistan, Trent Bridge (Strike Rate – 140)

Alex Hales can be highly valuable in limited overs cricket

In the last decade, England's think-tank had been desperately trying to unearth an attacking limited overs opener who can score runs at a lightning pace. In the form of Alex Hales, they seem to have found the answer.

With his aggressive style of batting, Hales adds the much-needed firepower at the top of England's batting order, something that England lacked after Marcus Trescothick's retirement. With a string of impressive performances already under his belt, Hales is likely to be a permanent fixture in limited overs cricket for at least the foreseeable future.

Hales smashed a stupendous 171 off 122 deliveries at a staggering strike rate of 140 this year against Pakistan. That more than a hundred runs came in boundaries (22 fours and four sixes) is a testament to the ease with which Hales can crack boundaries. With Hales acting as wrecker-in-chief, the hapless Pakistani bowling attack was blown to smithereens.

In the process, he also scripted history by shattering the record for the highest individual score in ODIs for England and England reached an incredible 444/3 surpassing the previous highest ODI total in an innings. Just for the record, England won by a humongous margin of 169 runs.