Roy, Morgan believe England batting can soar higher

Jason Roy fell narrowly short of breaking Robin Smith's 23-year-old record for the highest ODI score by an England batsman but he is confident that one of the new generation will eclipse it before long.

Roy's innings of 162 followed another record-breaking performance at Edgbaston last week - in which he and Alex Hales knocked off 256 without loss - as England sealed the series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare. However, he was dismissed with 27 still needed for victory on his home ground, and six to pass Smith's 167 not out at Edgbaston in 1993.

"Yeah, 100% someone could break that," Roy said. "We've seen it at Edgbaston, seen it here today - that was obviously a great pitch, tough to defend. Credit to the Sri Lankans, they did bat well, it was just a remarkable evening."

Eoin Morgan, England's captain, backed up that view after Roy led the way in a chase of 308 in 42 overs - only the fifth time England have overhauled a 300-plus target in ODIs, and the third inside 12 months.

"Not to take anything from Jason's innings today but certainly within our batting line-up I think we've guys who have enough talent and ability to push past that," he said. "Certainly the other day, if we had batted first at Edgbaston and got off to a similar start, you'd think that one of them would go past it.

"Jos Buttler probably doesn't need as many balls as anybody else to go past it. Against New Zealand last year, we got 400, Rooty got a 72-ball hundred and could have kicked on past it. The way to look at it, with the ability and power in the side, we have a lot of match-winners, which is something to be proud of."

England were handicapped on this occasion by the loss of Hales to a back problem and saw his replacement at opener, Moeen Ali, dismissed early in the innings. But Roy, who made an unbeaten 112 in the second ODI, ensured Sri Lanka would remain winless despite posting their highest total of the series in a match disrupted by rain.

"Part and parcel of being a successful international player is making form count and Jason epitomised that today," Morgan said. "He showed the experience of a player way beyond his years, a lot of guys might have got 80-90 or even a hundred and then got out. To go on and get 162 and make a substantial match-winning contribution was outstanding.

"The manner in which Jason and our batting unit plays is we do take risks but we're minimising risk by training very hard and bridging the gap between taking a risk and failing. We have enough firepower to do that and the innings by Jason reinforces the confidence within the batting unit to do that."

Superlative England performances have started to come along with increasing regularity and Roy described the atmosphere in the dressing room as "incredible" as the team continue to embrace a no-fear style of play.

"To back up the performance in Edgbaston was extremely special. Not many words to describe how I'm feeling now, I'm just excited to get back in the dressing room and see the boys and celebrate a series win," he said.

"It's my home ground, I've got a few people in to watch, which was hugely special. Credit to the boys, they allow me to go out there and enjoy myself and play the way I want to play. I've got no worries about getting out in the first over because I know the guys are backing me. It's an incredible dressing room to be part of at the moment."

Morgan said that a decision on whether Hales would be fit to play in the final match of the series, at Cardiff on Saturday, was "too early to call" and he would be assessed on Thursday afternoon.