Will Jacks stakes his claim in crowded England ODI top-order field

• Surrey all-rounder excels but Root may regain No 3 slot
• Jacks grateful for rare run of 50-over matches

It was a breakthrough century for Harry Brook at Chester-le-street, that sublime unbeaten 110 his first in one-day international cricket and a first against Australia in any format. But the contribution from Will Jacks was not insignificant either, especially given the potential squeeze when some of England’s big guns return.

Striking 84 from 82 balls as Brook’s rookie side dragged the one-day series back to 2-1 down with two to play, Jacks took the attack to Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood despite England’s troubling start that left them 11 for two. The right-hander now has four half-centuries from his first 10 ODIs and, given the quality of those two seamers and England’s precarious situation, he understandably rated it as his best.

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