Alex Hales
English batsmen were in ruthless mood against Australia on Tuesday.LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images

England stormed to a one-day international world record of 481 for six as they thrashed Australia by 242 runs at Trent Bridge to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Tuesday.

Australia skipper Tim Paine elected to bowl first and was soon regretting that decision as the home batsmen ran riot against his inexperienced attack.

Jonny Bairstow plundered a magnificent 139 off 92 balls while Alex Hales smashed 147 from 92.

Skipper Eoin Morgan tucked into the scoring feast with a 21-ball half century — the fastest by an England batsman in ODIs — to become his country's leading one-day scorer.

The total surpassed England's previous record 444 scored two years ago against Pakistan, also at Trent Bridge.

Australia were never in the hunt once opener D'Arcy Short chipped a catch to Moeen Ali off the bowling of David Willey in the fourth over and Moeen removed Travis Head and Shaun Marsh.

Adil Rashid ended with four wickets as Australia were bowled out in 37 overs for 239 — handing England their biggest ever winning margin in ODIs and Australia's heaviest defeat.

It was a remarkable day of shot-making by England's batsmen though as they carved an ODI record 62 boundaries, including 21 sixes. The only disappointment was that they failed to go beyond the 500-run barrier after some late wickets fell.

Remarkably England failed to strike a boundary in the last four overs — although the damage to the Australian morale was already done.

England the 'yardstick of 50-over cricket: Australia captain Paine

Australia skipper Tim Paine described England's batting as some of the "best striking I've ever seen."

"They are red hot at the moment," he said. "That is as hard a day's cricket as I've had in 16 or 17 years. Today it was a learning experience.

"Wherever we put the field they hit the gaps. They are the yardstick of 50-over cricket right now."

Brief scores: England 481/6 in 50 overs (Alex Hales 147, Jonny Bairstow 139; Jye Richardson 3/92) defeated Australia 239/10 in 27 overs (Travis Head 51, Marcus Stoinis 44; Adil Rashid 4/47).