Jonny Bairstow produced a delightful display of batting to give England a 7-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first one day international at Old Trafford.

‘Freakish’ is the only word Steven Finn could use to describe England batsman Jos Buttler, and the fast bowler thanks his lucky stars daily that facing the Lancashire man is a problem he is rarely fronted with.

The sight of Anthony Martial turning Martin Skrtel into human origami was a stark reminder of the magic that has been sadly lacking at Manchester United since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Wayne Rooney’s penalty against San Marino, a team who boast just a single victory from 129 matches, was hardly the most auspicious manner in which to make history – a fact that most observers have used to discredit the 29-year-old’s accomplishment.

England one-day international skipper Eoin Morgan is backing powerful opener Alex Hales to take his limited-overs form into the Test arena this winter.

England’s embarrassing 15-run defeat to perennial whipping boys Bangladesh on Monday continued 23 years of misery on cricket’s biggest stage, since England reached the final in 1992.