England faced Australia on February 22, 2025, during the Champions Trophy 2025, showcasing their cricketing prowess with a tremendous total of 351 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The match highlighted the brilliance of opener Ben Duckett, who scored 165 runs, underlining England’s intent to establish dominance over their age-old rivals.
After winning the toss, Australian captain Steve Smith opted to bowl first, believing it to be advantageous. "We're gonna have a bowl. It looks like a pretty good surface. There was a bit of dew when we were practicing, so we'd like to chase later on," he stated. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, had other ideas, expressing his confidence about batting. "We probably would have batted. We were a bit 50-50 on whether the dew would come in or not. It looks like a really good surface, and we’ll try to make good first use of it," he shared with optimism.
The match began on shaky ground for England; they lost opener Phil Salt early on, who was dismissed for just 10 runs. This was quickly followed by another blow as Jamie Smith fell for 15, leaving the team struggling at 43 for 2 within the first 5.2 overs. It was here where the steady head of Joe Root joined Duckett, which marked the beginning of their impressive partnership.
Duckett and Root orchestrated a remarkable third-wicket partnership, accumulating 158 runs. Root contributed with his own solid performance, scoring 68 runs from 78 deliveries, which included four boundaries. His dismissal brought about some anxious moments for England, but Duckett held firm.
Duckett, with undeniable determination, reached his well-deserved century, becoming the embodiment of resilience at the crease, completing his ton with back-to-back fours off Australian pacer Spencer Johnson. By the time he finished his innings, Duckett's score stood at 165 off 143 balls, dotted with 17 fours and three sixes.
Despite the Australians putting up some fight, particularly through Ben Dwarshuis, who took three wickets for 66 runs, England’s batting display was overwhelming. Duckett remained composed against the pacing and strategies employed by the Australian bowlers, forming additional partnerships with Duckett's skipper Jos Buttler and other players, ensuring England reached the formidable total of 351.
During the chase, Australia faced difficulties early on. Their batting lineup struggled against England's bowlers, who were resolute and determined to protect the substantial lead Duckett had provided. Despite the challenges, Australia managed to send England off the field with heads held high due to their earlier performance.
The result was particularly satisfying for England, who have had competitive encounters against Australia, especially considering the history they share within the Champions Trophy. England, the 2019 World Cup winners, aimed to carry their momentum forward, and Duckett’s performance was certainly pivotal.
With the stage set for their next encounters, the return of such spirited play against their long-standing rivals reiterates cricket's unpredictability and passion, and the cricketing world awaits what’s next for both sides.