England's cricket team made history on February 22, 2025, during the ICC Champions Trophy by setting the highest total recorded in the tournament's history against Australia. Played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, this thrilling match turned heads as England scored 351 runs after opting to bat first, thanks largely to Ben Duckett's extraordinary innings.
The match kicked off with Australia winning the toss and captain Steve Smith electing to field first, confident his bowlers could contain the English batting lineup. Unfortunately for Smith and his team, England's openers set the stage for what would become a record-breaking performance.
The innings began on shaky ground for England, losing two quick wickets and being reduced to 43 runs before Duckett and Joe Root decided to rebuild. They formed the backbone of the innings, crafting strong partnerships as Duckett displayed remarkable resilience and skill.
Duckett's stunning performance saw him score 165 runs from 143 balls, featuring 17 boundaries and three sixes. His ability to find gaps and dominate the bowling allowed England to recover from adversity. Notably, he shared a 158-run partnership with Root, who contributed 68 runs off 78 balls, playing the perfect support role as Duckett took the attack to the Australian bowlers.
While Duckett's innings set the tone, it was the structure of England's innings overall which pushed them past the historic mark. After solid contributions from Root, and quicker runs from lower-order batsmen, England's total reached 351 runs, breaking the previous record for the highest innings total set back in 2004 by New Zealand against the USA.
England's achievement didn't come easy though. After the early fall of their openers, Ben Dwarshuis emerged as Australia's best bowler, taking three wickets and applying pressure on the English batsmen. Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with two wickets each, but they were unable to stem the flow of runs as Duckett and Root steadily built up the score.
This record-breaking score now stands as the pinnacle achievement for England in Champions Trophy history and gives them significant momentum moving forward in the tournament. Following their remarkable innings, England asserted their intention to challenge for the title with high spirits.
Cricket fans worldwide have lauded Duckett for his impressive display, which not only secured the match for England but also etched his name alongside greats as he now holds the record for the highest individual score at the ICC Champions Trophy—an accolade previously held by Nathan Astle of New Zealand, who scored 145 runs against the USA.
With this historic match, England has set the bar for future outings and posed questions for Australia as they strive to chase down this monumental target. It will serve as an electrifying challenge as the Australian side looks to overcome their past failures at the tournament and secure victory.
Duckett's achievement is monumental not just for him but for the legacy of English cricket, as they boldly march forward, demonstrating their capabilities on the grand stage of international cricket.