History-making in Lahore – just not as England had intended it. For vast swathes of this tussle with Australia, the salient number appeared to be 165: Ben Duckett’s innings, a record for any man in the Champions Trophy. Yet by the end of this pulsating clash, another figure was altogether more significant: Australia’s 356 for five set new records both for the highest successful run chase against England and the highest in any International Cricket Council tournament.
Such feats bely the cold reality for England: Australia ultimately made their apparently towering target seem no more intimidating than a pebble in their path. With centurion Josh Inglis and Alex Carey sharing a 146-run stand for the fifth wicket – Inglis’s raw power complementing Carey’s finesse – before Glenn Maxwell’s swaggering cameo, Australia cruised to a five-wicket victory with 15 balls remaining. They were abetted by some English generosity too: Jofra Archer spilt a routine catch at deep midwicket when Carey was on 49, and Brydon Carse was ragged in his line and length.
Perhaps England’s regrets will begin much earlier: the match-winner could easily have been playing for them instead. Inglis, born and raised in Leeds to English parents, emigrated to Western Australia only six weeks short of his 15th birthday.
And so, for the third time in consecutive global events, England now face an ignominious exit. In all likelihood, England must now beat both Afghanistan and South Africa to make the semi-finals. Even should they manage that, there is a possibility of a three-way tie on two wins and elimination on net run-rate.
The notion of a bad Australian cricket team is an oxymoron: that is why Australia have won six of the past 10 ODI World Cups, including the last one. Yet sides sporting the green and gold seldom appear more vulnerable than the side England faced in Lahore, shorn of their entire first-choice pace bowling attack.
Duckett exploited the absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to amass 165: the latest vindication for England’s decision to anoint him as 50-over opener last year, emulating his Test role. Yet in lush batting conditions, England failed to quite set an impregnable total, mustering just 83 from the last 10 overs.
England’s 351 for eight felt over par; even more so as Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, the fastest opening pair in the competition, snared Travis Head and Steve Smith to reduce Australia to 27 for two. But both sides had opted to pack their batting line-ups, at the risk of leaving their bowling attacks exposed.
This was the cold reality that England faced during the decisive fifth-wicket partnership. Carey’s 69, combining sweet timing with brisk running, vindicated Australia’s decision to pick him as a specialist batsman. Inglis, who had earlier worn the gloves, built his innings through precise placement, mixed in with occasional innovation, as when he reverse-scooped Archer for four.
Then, with Australia needing 87 from the last 10 overs, Inglis unfurled a decisive assault. A devastating sequence of four sixes in 11 balls – a pull and scoop off Carse, and then twice launching Archer over the on side, the first from a slower ball – ensured Australia didn’t just win, but gave their net run rate a handy boost too.
While Australia revelled in maintaining their stellar record in global events, England now face an altogether less palatable truth. Since the start of the 2023 ODI World Cup, they have now lost 17 ODIs out of 24 – including all of the last five.
05:27 PM GMT
Jos Buttler at the presentations
It was a fantastic game, both sides played well, credit to Australia. It was a fantastic innings from Inglis. Three hundred and fifty is a pretty good score, but it was wet and the dew was a worry. Duckett has been brilliant at the top of the order in all formats, he’s been threatening a big contribution for some time. Shame it was in a losing cause. Everyone has played enough cricket to know you need to go on, but take the focus off yourself and focus on the big partnerships, Root and Duckett did that well. Root and Livi bowled well, created chances, but credit to Australia, we couldn’t break that partnership, got to give credit to the opposition.
[We go forward with] immense belief and optimism, if we keep putting 350 on the board we won’t come second too often.
05:13 PM GMT
Australia win by five wickets
After 30 overs England looked on course for 400 and even that might not have been enough on a belter of a pitch, with encroaching dew and Brendon McCullum’s rocket-based attack giving batsmen pace to harness against the bowlers. After making early inroads, the partnership between Alex Carey and Josh Inglis took the game away from England and the three quicks could not stop the boundary hitting, setting it up perfectly for Glenn Maxwell to finish as only he can.
05:04 PM GMT
OVER 47.3: AUS 356/5 (Inglis 120 Maxwell 32)
Australia win by five wickets with 15 balls to spare when Inglis shovels a six over cow corner off Wood.
Australia have hit eight sixes and 31 fours off Carse, Wood and Archer; England managed one six and 17 fours off their three quicks.
05:02 PM GMT
OVER 47: AUS 348/5 (Inglis 113 Maxwell 31)
Maxwell chisels out an Archer yorker for a single then Inglis pulls the short ball for six. It’s been a sensational innings but they have fed him the short ball and all he has to do is hang back and wait for it, operating magnificently on the back foot like the Tyke-Ocker cross he is.
Inglis opens the face to glide a single and Maxwell opens his stance, and larrups Archer through extra-cover for four, all wrists and eye. A long delay to confirm that Maxwell is not out and that Australia will be given a free hit after Maxwell gave Livingstone catching practice and to determine who’s on strike.
It’s Maxwell who will face the free hit, Archer goes for the yorker and lands it too short so Maxwell flays it over mid on for six.
Archer ends his spell with a yorker of which he can be proud to end a chastening stint of 10-0-82-1.
04:57 PM GMT
NOT OUT
The ball slipped out of Archer’s hand and was well above waist height, hence why he plinked it off the splice.
04:56 PM GMT
Umpire review
Maxwell holes out off a high full toss but how high?
04:50 PM GMT
OVER 46: AUS 329/5 (Inglis 106 Maxwell 20)
Wood starts his ninth over with a back of a length delivery angling into leg stump and Maxwell gives himself room to cut it through cover for four. Wood finally brings out the bouncer after bluffing for so long and makes Maxwell duck and slip. Maxwell walks the other way across his stumps after feinting to withdraw to leg and lifts it over his shoulder nonchalantly for six with a pancake-tossing bottom-hand flip.
Archer saves three runs at third man with a good running one-hand, one-bounce stop after Mazwell slashes outside off stump. Wood ends the over with two dot balls but the damage is done.
Australia need 23 off 24.
04:43 PM GMT
OVER 45: AUS 318/5 (Inglis 106 Maxwell 9)
Inglis jams out Archer’s yorker for a single and Maxwell heaves a pull for another. Archer goes short with the third ball and Inglis pulls it for six. Another cutter, another slower ball that sat up and begged to be punished. That’s Inglis’s maiden ODI century and it’s come off 77 balls. When Archer pitches up Inglis can only punch it straight twice for no return so why so many slow bouncers given how far they’ve been carted?
Aus need 34 off 30. England need two wickets or they’re cooked.
04:39 PM GMT
OVER 44: AUS 308/5 (Inglis 97 Maxwell 8)
The pendulum swings England’s way with three dot balls to start Carse’s seventh over to Inglis but then decisively back towards Australia when Inglis reads the slower ball and pulls it witheringly for six. The next ball is full and straight and Inglis reverse scoops it with an insouciant bottom-hand flick for six more.
Australia need 44 off 36.
04:34 PM GMT
OVER 43: AUS 295/5 (Inglis 84 Maxwell 8)
Wood replaces Livingstone and goes full and fast to start. Inglis clouts it down to point for two and then, after being beaten for pace and smacked on the top of the knee by one that was angling down, clips two off his pads and short-arm pulls for a single. Maxwell, playing his first match in Pakistan and riotously welcomed, opens his account with a pair of fours, the first on one knee smeared over extra cover and, for an encore, a slog over mid-on.
Australia need 57 off 42.
04:30 PM GMT
OVER 42: AUS 282/5 (Inglis 79 Maxwell 0)
Carey retreats to the legside to scuff a four through backwards square, then lamps two down the ground before taking another four, this one streakily off a leading edge ballooning over fine leg as he closed the face too soon. Carse finally gets his man and ends the over with two dot balls to the ‘Big Show’.
04:24 PM GMT
Wicket!
Carey c Buttler b Carse 69 Right, game on. After taking him for two fours and a two, Carey backs away to leg again, Carse follows him and he flat bats an easy chance to mid-off. FOW 282/5
04:24 PM GMT
OVER 41: AUS 272/4 (Inglis 79 Carey 59)
An extremely tidy over for Livingstone bar Carey’s back-foot, baseball slug for four past the bowler. Three more singles accompany the boundary, which is below the required rate but all they need is one good over to pull that back in their favour.
The so-far costly Carse is being brought back on.
04:19 PM GMT
OVER 40: AUS 265/4 (Inglis 78 Carey 53)
All or nothing for England who stick with Rashid for his 10th over. Inglis uses his feet to work a single to square leg and Carey scuffs a slog-sweep for a single.
Inglis’s sweep adds another single to the score. The infield at cover and mid-off save singles and Carey ends Rashid’s spell with a flick through midwicket for one. Rashid ends with 10-1-47-1.
Livingstone replaces Archer to take some of Carse’s overs.
04:15 PM GMT
OVER 39: AUS 261/4 (Inglis 76 Carey 51)
Archer retains the ball and tries to raise his shoulders and his knotted brow but Inglis gives him more grief with a reverse-scoop for four followed by another boundary next ball, skelped off his hips, bisecting deep backward square and fine leg.
Australia take two more off Inglis’s thighpad and the win predictor moves for the first time in Australia’s favour.
Australia need 91 off 66.
04:11 PM GMT
OVER 38: AUS 250/4 (Inglis 67 Carey 51)
Rashid’s googly gives him another dot ball until Carey heaves a pair of leg-breaks to midwicket for two and a single. Inglis hangs back for the googly and swipes a single down to long on. Mid-off stops a check-drive and then Archer drops a dolly at midwicket off the last ball that was dragged across the line to the midwicket sweeper. Instead of being out for 49, Carey moves to 51.
Archer looks devastated. And well he might be.
04:06 PM GMT
OVER 37: AUS 244/4 (Inglis 66 Carey 46)
Archer bowled four slower balls in his previous over but starts this one full and fast and Carey bunts to mid-on for a single. Pace on earns him a dot ball next before going for the cutter. Inglis tries to reverse scoop it and is done by the bounce, watching in relief as the ball vaults the stumps. Inglis elongates a defensive push to earn a single and Carey rides the bounce of one angled in from round the wicket to deflect it down to third for a single. Good, tight over from Archer, just what the Buttler ordered.
Australia need 108 off 78.
Rashid is going to continue for his ninth over.
04:00 PM GMT
OVER 36: AUS 241/4 (Inglis 65 Carey 44)
No justice for Rashid as Inglis tries to smack him over cover but Harrow drives/French cuts it off the inside corner of the toe, nutmegging Smith to raise the hundred partnership with a three to long stop. Afters coring 165, Duckett is still sprightly in the field as that looked like a certain four.
After Carey clips a single down to long on, Inglis uses his feet to the same effect and then Carse makes a gift of another single with a misfield at mid-on.
03:56 PM GMT
OVER 35: AUS 234/4 (Inglis 61 Carey 41)
We can’t tell if he’s injured initially as Archers starts with a leg-cutter at 73mph and Inglis is duped but plays and misses. Archer goes for the slower ball gambit again but this one sits up and Inglis pans a pull for four.
Now Archer puts the pace on and whistles a corker past Inglis’s off-stump. Midwicket saves a single with a smart stop but to no avail as Archer drifts too wide next ball and Inglis climbs into it and slashes it behind point for four. That was another slower ball so he ends the over with a 90mph one angled into the body that tucks Inglis up and puts a dot into the scorebook.
England bowled out their fifth bowler (a combined 1-64, which is perfectly respectable) - but do they trust Brydon Carse to bowl out? He’s conceded 46 from his five overs. If England don’t want him to bowl another five overs, that would need turning to Joe Root or Liam Livingstone again. Either way, England need a wicket very soon.
03:52 PM GMT
OVER 34: AUS 226/4 (Inglis 53 Carey 41)
Inglis shuffles back to the googly and chips a single into the legside. The next ball is a dragged down leg-break and Carey cuffs it for a single with the turn. Three more singles are gleaned off the next three balls, all off the back foot, all between point and mid-on, and Rashid ends the over by beating Carey on the cut with the googly.
Aus need 126 off 96. Archer is also coming back.
03:48 PM GMT
OVER 33: AUS 221/4 (Inglis 50 Carey 39)
Archer is back on. Hopefully it’s cramp in the calf rather than a problem with his ankle. Wood will have one more over, leaving three for the death.
Inglis has a big woosh outside off, all hands and Wood appeals as Smith gathers behind the stumps but there was no bat and then he connects with a back-foot punch, smearing the ball behind point for four, harnessing Wood’s speed to hurt him. Carse may be hurt be he makes a sensational diving stop at third man to save the next ball, also sliced behind point, from racing away for four, halving the damage.
The dew is starting to have an impact and Wood calls for some sawdust for his footholds.
Inglis brings up his fifty off 41 balls by fencing a single off the back foot and then Wood falls over a second time in his followthrough when delivering a dot ball to Carey.
Here comes Adil.
03:40 PM GMT
OVER 32: AUS 212/4 (Inglis 44 Carey 38)
Archer has actually gone back off again for more treatment. Carse, who took a lot of tap in his opening spell, is wayward again at the start of this one, giving Carey the room outside off to lever a drive over cover for four off the back foot. Two balls later Carse, who has a sore toe and is hobbling, tries the cutter and it sits up and begs to be hit and he does so, rocking back to pull it over midwicket for four more. Australia have the upper hand now even given how steep and long the chase still is.
Carse regains a measure of respectability to the right-handed Inglis, enticing a play and miss outside off stump but if Archer is done and Carse is struggling with lameness because of his injured foot, Root and Livingstone will have more heavy lifting to do.
Can Buttler afford two overs from Rashid here? Can he afford not to try his best bowler?
03:34 PM GMT
OVER 31: AUS 203/4 (Inglis 44 Carey 29)
Thanks, Rob. Wonderfully poised then. And Wood starts his sixth over by pinning Inflis with a hooping inswinger that hits him on the knee. England ask the question and ponder a review but Wood signals that the ball was sliding down and it was... by a mile.
Two wickets and the game is England’s but they need to break this partnership. Another inswinger, this one fuller from Wood, is clipped off the toes with flawless timing by Menston’s finest, Josh Inglis.
Australia need 149 from 114 balls.
Jofra Archer is back on the field which is good news. England, you suspect, need him or Mark Wood - who’s on now - to break this game open.
03:27 PM GMT
OVER 30: AUS 197/4 (Inglis 39 Carey 28)
Inglis forces Root through extra cover for four off the back foot, the start of another pretty good over for Australia. They need 155 from 120 balls.
Time for me to hand over to the great Rob Bagchi for the remainder of the game.
03:24 PM GMT
OVER 29: AUS 190/4 (Inglis 34 Carey 26)
Wood replaces Livingstone, who bowled a pretty good spell of 6-0-40-1. This Australian pair have regrouped impressively, scoring at almost eight an over with minimal risk, and Carey slashes a back cut for four to end an otherwise excellent over from Wood. This game is getting very tight.
Some good news for England: Jofra Archer is back on the field.
03:19 PM GMT
OVER 28: AUS 184/4 (Inglis 34 Carey 20)
Jofra Archer is receiving treatment for what looks like cramp. The balance of England’s team means they really can’t afford to lose a frontline bowler. Archer has left the field to be replaced by Jamie Overton, though it might only be for an over or two. Australia need 168 from 132 balls.
03:15 PM GMT
OVER 27: AUS 176/4 (Inglis 30 Carey 16)
England may need to go back to the quick bowlers. Inglis charges Livingstone and hammers a six over the man at long-on. A pair of twos are followed by four byes when a lovely delivery beats Inglis and somehow misses leg stump. A big over for Australia, 15 from it.
03:12 PM GMT
OVER 26: AUS 161/4 (Inglis 19 Carey 16)
A canny over from Root goes for five singles. England have now used seven of the 10 overs from Root and Livingstone.
03:09 PM GMT
OVER 25: AUS 156/4 (Inglis 16 Carey 14)
Carey, who has been in outstanding form with the bat all winter, takes care of that boundary statistic. He drives Livingstone over mid-off for four, then waves another expertly through mid-off. While England are on top, this game is far from over. Australia need 196 from 150 balls.
03:06 PM GMT
OVER 24: AUS 146/4 (Inglis 16 Carey 4)
Yep Rootdoes come into the attack. This is perfect for England as they can use up some fifth-bowler overs and keep more of Rashid’s overs in the bank. So far he has bowled six.
Six runs from Root’s over, all in ones and twos. Australia have only hit one boundary in 11 overs of spin bowling so far.
03:02 PM GMT
OVER 23: AUS 140/4 (Inglis 11 Carey 3)
Alex Carey is the new batter. Joe Root has a fine record agianst him in Test cricket so don’t be surprised if he comes on soon.
Mind you, since Livingstone and Rashid started bowling in tandem Australis have scored only 35/2 from 8 overs.
03:00 PM GMT
Wicket!
Short ct and b Livingstone 63 Gottim! England’s spinners have turned the screw superbly and now Livingstone has his reward. Short checks a drive back towards the bowler, who takes an excellent low catch in his follow through. As frustrating as Livingstone can be with the bat, he is such a useful spin bowler. Short played very well but got stuck against the spinners. FOW: 136/4
02:57 PM GMT
OVER 22: AUS 136/3 (Short 63 Inglis 10)
This is a masterful spell of bowling from Rashid, who is varying his pace constantly and driving the required rate up. A brilliant maiden - the only run was a leg-bye - ends with an unsuccessful LBW appeal against Inglis. An inside edge saved him.
02:55 PM GMT
OVER 21: AUS 135/3 (Short 63 Inglis 10)
I thought England might go back to pace, given Inglis’s record against spin, but Livingstone continues. It’s another boundaryless over, which England will take all night long. Australia’s required run rate has crept past 7.5 per over.
02:50 PM GMT
OVER 20: AUS 129/3 (Short 60 Inglis 7)
Josh Inglis, a fine player of spin, gets off the mark by slapping his first ball superbly through extra cover for four.
02:48 PM GMT
Wicket!
Labuschagne c Buttler b Rashid 47 A master at work. Rashid tosses up a painfully slow, 43mph delivery to tempt Labuschagne into a big stroke. He whacks it inside out and is caught very smartly by Jos Buttler at extra cover. That’s a really timely wicket for England, and just a beautiful piece of bowling. FOW: 122/3
02:47 PM GMT
OVER 19: AUS 122/2 (Short 60 Labuschagne 47)
Another useful over from Livingstone. England’s spinners have bowled six overs without conceding a boundary; Australia will have to change that at some stage.
02:44 PM GMT
OVER 18: AUS 118/2 (Short 58 Labuschagne 45)
There’s been a change of pace in the last few overs, both in the bowling and the scoring rate. Short and Labuschagne - like Duckett and Root earlier - are starting to settle in for what they hope will be long innings. Just four from Rashid’s over.
02:41 PM GMT
OVER 17: AUS 114/2 (Short 57 Labuschagne 42)
Liam Livingstone replaces Carse. Two right-handers at the crease so he’s bowling legspin. Short clubs his last ball down the ground for two, with Carse making a very good sliding stop on the boundary. There was a chance of a (difficult) catch for Livingstone but he was slow to react in his follow through.
02:38 PM GMT
OVER 16: AUS 109/2 (Short 54 Labuschagne 40)
Australia are playing Rashid with soft hands and the utmost respect. Four singles and a two = six from the over. England need a wicket because Australia have stealthily moved into a good position.
02:32 PM GMT
OVER 15: AUS 103/2 (Short 52 Labuschagne 36)
Short plays a picture-perfect drive through extra cover off Brydon Carse. England review for caught behind when Short flicks at a delivery down the leg side. It was called wide but replays showed it deflected off the pad, so England lose a review and gain a run.
Short moves to a boundary-laden fifty - nine fours, one six - with a flick to the fine leg boundary. Carse hasn’t been at his best today and siblwing a bit too straight.
02:27 PM GMT
OVER 14: AUS 94/2 (Short 43 Labuschagne 36)
Rashid concedes only a couple from a superb over. Australia need to find a way to milk him because the required rate is already above 7; that said, England still have 10 overs to be bowled by Livingstone or Root.
02:23 PM GMT
OVER 13: AUS 92/2 (Short 42 Labuschagne 35)
Carse, back in the attack, drops slightly short and is pummelled over midwicket for six by Short. He is so good on the pull.
That aside it’s an excellent over from Carse, including a yorker that is dug out and an unpleasant delivery that hits Short on the hip.
02:20 PM GMT
England need to bowl Australia out to win
It’s striking how Australia have kept up with the required rate, no matter those two early wickets. The pitch is a belter; England - well-placed as they are - will surely need to bowl Australia out to win.
02:18 PM GMT
OVER 12: AUS 85/2 (Short 36 Labuschagne 34)
It’s time for England/s main man, Adil Rashid. He almost strikes first ball when Short biffs the ball whence it came; Rashid changes direction, dived low to his right but couldn’t hold on to an exceptionally difficult chance.
Australia are happy, very happy, to take a single off all six deliveries.
02:14 PM GMT
OVER 11: AUS 79/2 (Short 33 Labuschagne 31)
The Powerplay is done so we should see Adil Rashid soon. Jofra Archer continues for now and bowls a pretty good over at a cose of just three runs.
02:09 PM GMT
OVER 10: AUS 76/2 (Short 31 Labuschagne 30)
Carse is unfortunate when an inside edge from Labuschagne flies past the stumps for four. He gets what he deserves when consecutive bad deliveries - one full, one short - are put away for four on the leg side. Labuschagne has maded a tremendous start and has 30 from 20 balls.
02:05 PM GMT
OVER 9: AUS 62/2 (Short 31 Labuschagne 16)
Archer changes ends to replace Wood, who bowled a volcanic first spell of 4-0-23-1. Australia still have plenty of batting to come - Inglis, Carey, Maxwell - so it’s important for England to keep chipping away.
Nothing doing in that over but Archer does keep Australia to ones and twos. They need 290 from 41 overs.
02:01 PM GMT
OVER 8: AUS 57/2 (Short 30 Labuschagne 12)
Brydon Carse’s first ball is too straight and touched fine for four by Labuschagne. Australia are doing well to keep up with the rate despite the loss of those early wickets. A thick edge from Labuschagne flies through the vacant slip cordon for a single and then Short is hit under the arm by a nasty short ball.
A terrific stat on the TV coverage supports Tim’s point. So far the average speed of England’s seamers is 91mph; for Australia it was 79 mph.
01:57 PM GMT
OVER 7: AUS 50/2 (Short 30 Labuschagne 5)
Short flips Wood handsomely over mid-on for four, his seventh of the innings. Earlier in the over he actually ran a couple of runs.
01:55 PM GMT
Roles reversed in Lahore
It’s rare that England hold such an advantage in pace over Australia - and they are really using it so far. Australia’s attack was built around variety; England’s has been built around speed.
01:51 PM GMT
OVER 6: AUS 43/2 (Short 24 Labuschagne 4)
Short is dealing exclusively in boundaries. He hits three in Archer’s third over: cut, flick to fine leg, withering pull. Australia continue to go hard in the Powerplay despite the loss of two big wickets.
01:48 PM GMT
OVER 5: AUS 31/2 (Short 12 Labuschagne 4)
A square drive for four from Labuschagne is followed by four dot balls. Pretty much every delivery Wood has bowled has been in excess of 95 mph. That’s remarkable, not leat because he’s 35 years old.
01:42 PM GMT
Huge wicket!
Smith c Duckett b Wood 5 Mark Wood strikes! Steve Smith throws everything at a delivery outside off stump but is done for pace and edges straight to Ben Duckett at second slip. England are in a terrific position now. FOW: 27/2
01:40 PM GMT
OVER 4: AUS 27/1 (Short 12 Smith 5)
Steve Smith is beaten by his first ball, a nipbacker from Archer. He’s been in ominous form lately and a bit of width allows him to cut a boundary and get off the mark.
01:35 PM GMT
Wicket!
Head ct and b Archer 6 Jofra Archer gets the big wicket! It was all his own work: Head dragged the ball whence it came and Archer reached to his left to take a fine two-handed catch in his follow-through. He hurt himself in the process, which meant his celebration was more of a wince, but he seems okay. That really is a huge wicket for England. FOW: 21/1
01:33 PM GMT
OVER 3: AUS 21/0 (Short 12 Head 6)
Short is beaten twice by Wood, then uses the pace to glide the ball through backward point for four. Those are the only ones from a very good over.
01:28 PM GMT
OVER 2: AUS 17/0 (Short 8 Head 6)
If Travis Head bats for 15 overs, Australia will probably win this game. He slaps Jofra Archer through the covers for his first boundary; a collection of singles, leg-byes and wides make it nine from the over.
01:21 PM GMT
OVER 1: AUS 8/0 (Short 8 Head 0)
Mark Wood, surely the world’s fastest bowler, hits 94mph straight away. But pace can be a mixed blessing: when Wood errs in line, Short hits boundaries to fine leg and square leg. The rest of the over was excellent, but at this level any imperfection is punished.
01:16 PM GMT
The players are back on the field
Given the tempo of the England innings, and the existence of Travis Head, it feels like the Powerplay will be pivotal.
A close run thing, but that's the first time this year that England's number 11 hasn't had to bat. It's their ninth limited overs match of 2025. Just superb from Ben Duckett
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) February 22, 2025
01:04 PM GMT
Duckett leads the way
A record-breaking innings from Ben Duckett led England to a commanding 351-8 against Australia in the Champions Trophy opener in Lahore.
Five months after first opening for England in one-day internationals – emulating his Test match role – Duckett struck the highest score by any batsman in the nine editions of the Champions Trophy. His 165 is also the fifth highest ODI score by an Englishman ever.
Last September, Duckett was picked as ODI opener because of England’s belief that he could replicate his effectiveness opening the batting in Test cricket in the 50-over game. With a high-quality technique allied to an array of shots and deceptive power, Duckett’s innings at Gaddafi Stadium showed the range shown by the world’s best ODI openers.
Duckett is normally renowned for his sweeps – both conventional and reverse. Yet in Lahore he largely eschewed these shots, instead preferring to use his power down the ground. One such example took him to his century in 95 balls, when he punched Spencer Johnson through long on.
Yet Duckett’s worth was greatest against spin. As England’s sole left-hander he embraced the task of attacking Adam Zappa’s leg spin. Against Zampa, Duckett hit 50 from just 36 balls. When bowling to the right-handers in the rest of England’s line-up, Zampa took 2-14 from 24 balls.
If Duckett was understandably growing increasingly fatigued by the end of his innings, his standing ovation from a near-capacity crowd was richly deserved. Since becoming first-choice opener last year, Duckett now averages 67 with a strike rate of 114 – combining consistency with rapidity just as Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy did as England’s openers in the 2019 World Cup.
Duckett’s innings leaves England solid favourites to win their opening game – although, on a fertile ground for scoring, their total is perhaps only 20 runs or so above par.
12:49 PM GMT
Australia need 352 to win
England have made the highest score in Champions Trophy history, thanks mainly to the highest individual score in this competition: a marvellous 165 from Ben Duckett. And yet the consensus in the commentary box that Australia have every chance of chasing down this target on what is a wonderful batting pitch. We’ll be back shortly for the run-chase.
12:48 PM GMT
OVER 50: ENG 351/8 (Archer 21 Rashid 1)
Jofra Archer finishes the innings in style: he swats Labuschagne for four, then wallops a six over midwicket. Two runs off the last delivery take England past 350; Archer finishes with a very handy 21 not out from 10 balls.
12:46 PM GMT
Wicket!
Carse ct and b Labuschagne 8 Labuschagne continues to pick away at England in his unlikely death-bowling role. Carse slog-sweeps a flighted delivery high in the and is well caught by Labuschagne, running back towards the boundary. Four balls remaining. FOW: 338/8
12:44 PM GMT
OVER 49: ENG 336/7 (Carse 6 Archer 9)
The last delivery of Nathan Ellis’s spell is a full toss that Archer smears for four. That’s the first boundary off Ellis in seven overs; he finishes a really good spell with figures of 10-0-51-0.
12:41 PM GMT
Duckett masters dangerous Zampa
Supreme innings from Ben Duckett: the highest ever score in the Champions Trophy. Understandably, he was flagging at the end of his innings, but his standing ovation was richly deserved.
Duckett is England’s sole left-hander, magnifying his importance against leg spin. Against Adam Zampa, Duckett hit 50 from just 36 balls, mainly through his power down the ground; he largely avoided his trademark sweep. How grateful England were for Duckett: against the rest of England’s line-up, Zampa took 2-14 from 24 balls.
12:40 PM GMT
OVER 48: ENG 325/7 (Carse 3 Archer 2)
It sounds a bit daft, given the score, but Australia are probably ahead in the game. The key to their run-chase will be how much dew falls in Lahore this evening.
12:36 PM GMT
Wicket!
Duckett LBW b Labushagne 165 Steve Smith’s gamble pays off! Duckett has gone, LBW to Labuschagne after missing a sweep. He reviewed but it was plumb. That’s the end of a truly great innings: 165 from 143 balls with 17 fours and three sixes. He has rarely played better for England; maybe just once in Rajkot last year.. FOW: 322/7
12:34 PM GMT
OVER 47: ENG 321/6 (Duckett 165 Carse 1)
Duckett marches on, muscling a pull through midwicket for four. This is turning into one of the greatest ODI innings in English history, and it started in first and second gear.
12:31 PM GMT
Wicket!
Livingstone c Ellis b Dwarshuis 14 Australia continue to take wickets at opportune times. Livingstone picks up a slower ball from Dwarshuis but doesn’t get enough on it and Ellis takes a comfortable catch at deep backward square. FOW: 316/6
12:28 PM GMT
OVER 46: ENG 311/5 (Duckett 156 Livingstone 14)
Adam Zampa’s final over goes for just eight. Duckett sweeps firmly for his 15th four; he looks shattered but has the chance to beat the record for England’s highest ODI score: Ben Stokes made 182 against New Zealand at the Oval in 2023.
12:24 PM GMT
OVER 45: ENG 303/5 (Duckett 150 Livingstone 13)
A misfield gives Duckett a single, which takes him to an exemplary 150 from 134 balls. Livingstone is given out LBW to Ellis but reviews straight away; there was an inside-edge so he survives. Even so, it’s another superb over from Ellis, who has figures of 9-0-40-0. He could end up being a wicketless matchwinner.
12:20 PM GMT
OVER 44: ENG 299/5 (Duckett 148 Livingstone 12)
Interesting (part 2): Steve Smith gives Labuschagne another over, even though he’s used up the fifth-bowler allocation. Livingstone beasts a full toss for six, though Labuschagne does pretty well to concede only four singles from the last four balls.
12:13 PM GMT
OVER 43: ENG 289/5 (Duckett 146 Livingstone 4)
As Pommie Mbangwa says in the commentary box, Nathan Ellis read the conditions straight away and started to deploy his variations early in his innings. Hh continues to do so, conceding only four singles from his eighth over.
Surprising stat of the day: Ben Duckett’s score is now the highest in Champions Trophy history.
12:08 PM GMT
OVER 42: ENG 285/5 (Duckett 144 Livingstone 2)
Labuschagne returns to bowl the last of Australia’s fifth-bowler allocation. It’s excellent timing from Steve Smith, with England not really in a position to go big, and there are five singles from the over.
England still have a fair chance of reaching 350, which feels like a par score on a superb pitch.
12:04 PM GMT
OVER 41: ENG 280/5 (Duckett 141 Livingstone 0)
Nine overs to go.
12:04 PM GMT
Wicket!
Buttler c Ellis b Maxwell 23 Buttler monsters Maxwell for six and four - but then he slog-sweeps Maxwell to deep midwicket and punches the turf in frustration. It was an excellent low catch from Ellis, looking into the sun. That’s a big wicket, one that could shave 30 runs off Australia’s target. FOW: 280/5
11:59 AM GMT
OVER 40: ENG 268/4 (Duckett 140 Buttler 12)
Buttler was the world’s best No6 earlier in his career so he should have no trouble finding the right tempo. He knows he can afford to take a bit of time to get his eye in - especially with Duckett batting so brilliantly. He crashes a back cut for four off Dwarshuis’s last delivery.
11:56 AM GMT
OVER 39: ENG 258/4 (Duckett 134 Buttler 8)
Maxwell replaces Zampa, who has one over remaining. Duckett dances down to blast a straight six, his third of the innings. This is his template for all future innings in all formats; his management of risk has been nigh-on flawless. It feels like he has played sensibly yet he still has 134 from 120 balls. That’s how talented he is.
11:51 AM GMT
OVER 38: ENG 248/4 (Duckett 125 Buttler 7)
A poor over for England turns into a decent one when Dwarshuis’s last ball runs away for four leg-byes.
11:44 AM GMT
OVER 37: ENG 241/4 (Duckett 124 Buttler 5)
Duckett reverse-sweeps Zampa’s first ball for four. A single brings Buttler - who has a really poor record against Zampa - on strike. This is Zampa’s penultimate over so Buttler has the option to just see him off; that’s exactly what he does for the rest of the over.
The last delivery, driven for a single by Buttler, turns out to be a front-foot no-ball. Duckett takes advantage of the free hit, clubbing a full toss for six! He’s playing a gem of his innings - one of his best for England, and probably his most mature.
11:42 AM GMT
OVER 36: ENG 228/4 (Duckett 113 Buttler 4)
Australia still have three overs from a part-timer to bowl but for now Steve Smith is using his specialists, knowing Australia are only two wickets away from the bowlers. Dwarshuis returns and concedes four singles.
11:37 AM GMT
OVER 35: ENG 224/4 (Duckett 111 Buttler 2)
Those two wickets are huge for Australia, who were facing a potential target of around 400 while Duckett and Root were cruising along.
11:33 AM GMT
Wicket!
Brook c Carey b Zampa 3 Alex Carey is wasted as a wicketkeeper; he’s just taken another superb catch to dismiss the dangerous Harry Brook for 3. Brook charged Zampa and sliced the ball towards backward point, where Carey ran back and swooped forward to take his second brilliant catch of the day. FOW: 219/4
11:32 AM GMT
OVER 34: ENG 219/3 (Duckett 108 Brook 3)
A quiet over from the returning Nathan Ellis, who has done superbly to concede only two boundaries from his seven overs.
11:28 AM GMT
OVER 33: ENG 216/3 (Duckett 107 Brook 1)
As Tim said, Duckett hasn’t sweat at all today. But now that he’s past 100 he unfurls a reverse sweep for four off Zampa. Duckett could go huge here; on this pitch, England may need him to.
11:22 AM GMT
Drinks break
Sublime century from Ben Duckett: punches Spencer Johnson down the ground and then celebrates by punching the air. He’s got there in 95 balls - anchoring while still scoring at over a-run-a-ball, in the modern way. Since becoming first-choice opener ahead of the ODIs against Australia last year, Duckett is averaging 67 with a strike rate of 111. Today’s he’s largely eschewed the trademark sweeps, preferring to use his power down the ground. A consummate opener’s innings so far, with power to add.
11:21 AM GMT
OVER 32: ENG 210/3 (Duckett 102 Brook 0)
Ben Duckett reaches an outstanding hundred! He got there with back-to-back tennis shots down the ground for four off Spencer Johnson. “That’s a really special innings,” says Matthew Hayden, the gold standard of left-handed openers, in the commentary box. It’s been such a good innings: 95 balls, 11 fours, one six. And believe it or not with that strike rate, it’s been relatively restrained.
11:15 AM GMT
OVER 31: ENG 201/3 (Duckett 93 Brook 0)
That was the last ball of the over. Harry Brook, 26 today, is the new batter.
11:15 AM GMT
Wicket!
Root LBW b Zampa 68 Superb stuff from Adam Zampa, who concedes only one from his sixth over - and picks up the big wicket of Joe Root. He missed a sweep at a ball that snaked under the bat to hit the front pad. Root reviewed instantly, thinking it was going down leg. It was umpire’s call - just - and Root walks off shaking his head after an excellent knock of 68 from 78 balls. FOW: 201/3
11:11 AM GMT
From our man in Lahore
Getting towards a full house now; a lot of fans didn’t want to watch during the hottest part of the day, especially as there are very few covered areas at the ground.
11:10 AM GMT
OVER 30: ENG 200/2 (Duckett 92 Root 68)
Root swivel-pulls Johnson beautifully for four. He has played absurdly well, scoring at almost a run a ball with maybe only a couple of false strokes. Nine from the over, the last of which brings up the 200 with 20 overs to go. A score of 350 feels like a minimum now.
11:05 AM GMT
OVER 29: ENG 191/2 (Duckett 91 Root 61)
Zampa returns; his last six overs are crucial and may ultimately decide this game. Duckett lofts his first ball down the ground for a one-bounce four, but Zampa pulls things back pretty well after that.
In the commentary box, Matthew Hayden says England could reach 400 on this pitch.
11:00 AM GMT
OVER 28: ENG 183/2 (Duckett 84 Root 60)
Another pretty good over from Ellis goes for four singles. In the context of such a high-scoring game, his figures of 6-0-29-0 are very good.
10:55 AM GMT
OVER 27: ENG 179/2 (Duckett 82 Root 58)
The musical chairs continues, with Maxwell changing ends to replace Labuschagne. After a good start to the over, he drops short and is battered through extra cover for four by Duckett. This has been a strikingly grown-up innings from Duckett, who has 82 from 79 balls.
10:52 AM GMT
OVER 26: ENG 171/2 (Duckett 76 Root 56)
Nathan Ellis returns in place of Maxwell, who bowled only one over in his second spell. Steve Smith has done this effectively in the past, constantly rotating his bowlers; England collect five singles with minimal fuss. You’d imagine they’ll try to carry on like this for another five overs before starting to go through the gears. A wicket would change that, though.
10:46 AM GMT
OVER 25: ENG 166/2 (Duckett 73 Root 54)
Interesting: Marnus Labuschagne is going to bowl some legspin. He does have a bit of a golden arm and took 3/39 against England at Trent Bridge last summer. England are happy dealing in ones and twos for now, an approach that yields seven runs from the over.
An excellent fifty from Ben Duckett curbing his natural attacking intent. He played only 31% attacking shots today on the way to a half-century, his least attacking ODI fifty.
In the eight previous times he's reached the landmark, he's played 59% attacking shots on average.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) February 22, 2025
10:43 AM GMT
OVER 24: ENG 159/2 (Duckett 68 Root 52)
Maxwell replaces Short and is milked for five more singles. This has been a terrific partnership - as Tim says, they’re going at cruising speed.
10:38 AM GMT
England at cruising speed
Excellent from this pair: exactly the cruising speed that England mastered in the 2015-19 cycle. Joe Root is playing the Joe Root role and Ben Duckett is playing the Eoin Morgan role.
10:38 AM GMT
OVER 23: ENG 154/2 (Duckett 65 Root 50)
Ben Dwarshuis, the only wicket-taker so far, replaces Zampa after a spell of 4-0-23-0. Root works him for a single to reach an apparently effortless fifty from 56 balls. He’s hit only three boundaries, which tells you how well he has rotated strike.
Man we’ll miss Joe Root when he’s gone. He’s a joy and a genius.
10:35 AM GMT
OVER 22: ENG 150/2 (Duckett 63 Root 48)
Matt Short, another occasional offspinner, comes into the attack. Root drives his first ball handsomely for four, which allows England to milk away for the rest of the over.
10:33 AM GMT
OVER 21: ENG 143/2 (Duckett 62 Root 42)
Duckett plays an outstanding shot, spanking a shortish delivery from Zampa through extra cover for four. He follows that with a jaunty little ramp for four more to bring up the hundred partnership.
These are Duckett’s rewards for an unusually cautious start to the innings. He has a poor conversion rate and will be furious if he doesn’t make a century today.
10:28 AM GMT
OVER 20: ENG 132/2 (Duckett 52 Root 41)
Johnson is changing the angle to Root, moving from over to around the wicket and back. A good over includes three dot balls to Root. It feels like both teams are waiting for the other to make their move.
10:25 AM GMT
OVER 19: ENG 129/2 (Duckett 51 Root 39)
England are treating Zampa with caution, a mark of respect and a commonsense approach in the circumstances. He’s started well and has figures of 3-0-12-0.
10:21 AM GMT
OVER 18: ENG 126/2 (Duckett 50 Root 37)
After a short spell of 3-0-23-0, Maxwell is replaced by Spencer Johnson. Root reaches for a wide delivery and gets lucky when an inside edge flies past the stumps for four, then Duckett slugs a pull over midwicket for four more. That takes him to a responsible half-century from 49 balls. Imagine being so good that you can bat within yourself and still score fifty at more than a run a ball.
England have hit 6.2% of all their deliveries in the air in ODIs since 2022. That is the highest for any team in ODIs between full member nations in the last three years. They average 12.3 playing those shots.
Out of all the shots hit in the air, 38% have been uncontrolled.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) February 22, 2025
10:17 AM GMT
OVER 17: ENG 116/2 (Duckett 45 Root 32)
A good over from Zampa straight after the drinks break, just three from it. England are going pretty well, scoring at 6.82 per over.
10:11 AM GMT
OVER 16: ENG 113/2 (Duckett 43 Root 31)
Another over of low-risk accumulation, this time off Maxwell: five singles, one dot ball and drinks.
10:07 AM GMT
OVER 15: ENG 108/2 (Duckett 40 Root 29)
It’s time for the legspin of Adam Zampa, Australia’s trump card in this format. He has a terrific record against England and was man of the match, with 3-21 from 10 overs, when these teams met at the last World Cup. Duckett and Root take no risks in his first over but still manage to milk six runs.
10:04 AM GMT
OVER 14: ENG 102/2 (Duckett 36 Root 27)
Duckett takes a single off Maxwell to bring up a mature fifty partnership at exactly a run a ball. Duckett, in particular, is playing with unusual restraint, as if recognising there is a chance of a huge hundred on this pitch.
The moment I type that, Duckett dances down to clatter Maxwell back over his head for six. Super shot.
10:02 AM GMT
OVER 13: ENG 91/2 (Duckett 28 Root 24)
Ellis, the only right-arm seamer in Australia’s team, is already using a lot of variations. He’s doing ane excellent job too: anyone would take figures of 4-0-20-0 on this pitch.
09:55 AM GMT
OVER 12: ENG 87/2 (Duckett 27 Root 22)
Glenn Maxwell, playing his first cricket match in Pakistan, comes into the attack. Duckett has a couple of sighters and then thumps a boundary down the ground; it wasn’t perfectly timed but it did the job.
09:53 AM GMT
Root in great touch
Joe Root has got through the Powerplay - something he didn’t do on five out of nine occasions in the World Cup. He’s timing the ball beautifully, particularly in that punch through mid on from Nathan Ellis. The average first innings score in the past three years here is 293; 320 is probably par.
09:52 AM GMT
OVER 11: ENG 80/2 (Duckett 22 Root 20)
Root, who is batting beautifully, times Ellis through midwicket for his first boundary. England’s scoring rate is excellent and they should be aiming for a score of at least 350.
09:48 AM GMT
OVER 10: ENG 73/2 (Duckett 21 Root 14)
Duckett is starting to get a bit frustrated with how often he’s mistiming the ball or hitting the field. But then he finally gets one away, cracking Dwarshuis through extra cover for four off the last ball of the Powerplay. This is such a good pitch for batting.
09:43 AM GMT
OVER 9: ENG 64/2 (Duckett 15 Root 12)
Root, an expert at picking up ones and twos, has moved to 12 from 14 balls without hitting a boundary. Duckett’s dot-ball ratio tends to be higher, even when he’s scoring freely; after a quiet over from Ellis, he has 15 from 21 balls with two fours.
09:40 AM GMT
OVER 8: ENG 60/2 (Duckett 14 Root 9)
Root clips Dwarshuis off the pads for a couple. He’s started busily and will aim to bat through the innings, or at least for a large part of it.
09:36 AM GMT
OVER 7: ENG 55/2 (Duckett 14 Root 4)
Nathan Ellis, a seamer with approximately 57 variations, replaces Johnson. Duckett touches a loose delivery to fine leg for four to bring up England’s fifty. A low-bouncing delivery beats everyone on its way for four byes.
09:31 AM GMT
OVER 6: ENG 46/2 (Duckett 10 Root 3)
England are scoring at almost eight an over but the loss of those two wickets means Australia are on top.
09:28 AM GMT
Wicket!
Smith c Carey b Dwarshuis 13 Second time unlucky for Jamie Smith, who clips Dwarshuis straight to Carey at mid-on. After a promising start, that’s a frustratingly tame end to his innings. FOW: 43/2
09:26 AM GMT
OVER 5: ENG 42/1 (Duckett 9 Smith 15)
A bit of luck for Jamie Smith, who mistimes Johnson just over the head of Carey at mid-on. That was sandwiched by two excellent boundaries, a flick off the pads and a picture-perfect cover drive. That one false stroke aside, he has made a very assured start.
09:22 AM GMT
OVER 4: ENG 32/1 (Duckett 9 Smith 5)
Duckett clips Dwarshuis’s first ball over midwicket for four, the start of a pretty good over for England that also includes five wides down the leg side. The early signs are that this is a 320+ pitch, maybe 350+.
09:16 AM GMT
OVER 3: ENG 20/1 (Duckett 4 Smith 4)
A quiet over from Johnson, just three from it. Duckett hasn’t quite found his timing yet.
09:12 AM GMT
OVER 2: ENG 17/1 (Duckett 1 Smith 4)
Jamie Smith, in his new role at No3, skips down to time his second ball through extra cover for four.
Stunning catch from Alex Carey diving one-handed to his right at mid on - even more impressive considering he’s normally a keeper. Phil Salt had begun brimming with intent, so that’s a huge wicket.
09:10 AM GMT
Wicket!
Salt c Carey b Dwarshuis 10 What a catch by Alex Carey! He’s usually behind the stumps but he has just taken a blinder at mid-on. Salt lifted Ben Dwarshuis for what looked like another boundary, only for Carey to thrust up a telescopic right arm and take a marvellous catch. FOW: 13/1
09:06 AM GMT
OVER 1: ENG 12/0 (Salt 10 Duckett 0)
Spencer Johnson, a tall left-arm quick with a Mark Renton haircut, opens the bowling. There’s no sign of any swing, or significant bounce, and Salt pumps four through mid-off. “This is an absolute road,” says Matthew Hayden in the commentary box.
Salt proves the point by clattering the last ball over wide mid-on for six.
08:57 AM GMT
An historic occasion
Absolutely zero relevance for the Ashes, but England-Australia in a global tournament has more than enough context in its own right.
Incredibly, it’s the first time they’ve ever played each other in Pakistan.
Excellent atmosphere building in Lahore - more English flags so far.
08:44 AM GMT
A high-scoring game in prospect
A significant toss? The locals don’t think it’s particularly important and the dew isn’t very significant at this time of year. Still, you suspect that England would have chosen to chase too. Should be a very high-scoring game.
The atmosphere is shaping up superbly: even two hours before play, there were long queues to get in. Remarkably, this is the first ever England-Australia clash in Pakistan, in any format.
England’s team was already announced two days ago; Jamie Smith will get his first go at number three soon - though, hopefully, not too soon.
Australia’s XI has emphatically been picked to take advantage of England’s lack of left-handers; Ben Duckett is the sole southpaw. So both left-armers, Ben Dwarshuis and Spencer Johnson, are playing for Australia. Expect the pair to bowl a lot of cutters across England’s right-handers, helping Australia to defend one side of the field.
08:40 AM GMT
The teams
Australia Short, Head, Smith (c), Inglis (wk), Labuschagne, Carey, Maxwell, Dwarshuis, Ellis, Zampa, Johnson.
England Salt, Duckett, Smith (wk), Root, Brook, Buttler (c), Livingstone, Carse, Archer, Rashid, Wood.
08:37 AM GMT
Australia win the toss and bowl
Steve Smith says there’s a bit of dew so Australia would like to chase. Jos Buttler says he was 50/50 at the toss and England “would probably have batted”.
08:11 AM GMT
Tim Wigmore on England’s reshuffle
The late tinkering is a recognition of two truths. First, England’s recent ODI form has been abject: since the start of the 2023 World Cup, they have won seven matches and lost 16. Second, the schedule allows little scope for England to become a well-grooved side, as they were in the 2015-19 cycle; instead, experimentation must come just before – or even during – tournaments. Smith might well have batted at three in the ODIs in India, but was injured.
08:07 AM GMT
Good morning
Good morning and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of England’s opening Champions Trophy game against Australia in Lahore. Usually you can ease into a tournament, but the Champions Trophy is different and this already has the feel of a de facto quarter-final.
The good news for England is that Australia have a weakened side, with almost half of their World Cup-winning XI missing. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc are all unavailable because of injury or personal reasons.
England announced their team early, with Jamie Smith promoted to No3 in an intriguing reshuffle. Their white-ball form has been poor for a while and this is an important competition for Jos Buttler, who is in the unusual position of a) being a World Cup-winning captain and b) fighting for his legacy as captain.
The reshuffle means Jos Buttler will move back to No6, though he has no concerns about that. “In my whole career in ODI cricket I’ve probably batted at six more than anywhere so I’m very comfortable in that role,” he said.
“I feel very confident in my own form. I’m excited and optimistic. I feel like 50 overs has been my best format over my career, it’s where I’ve had the most impact.
“I want to try and double down on that super strength of being in the middle-order, playing impactful innings and being really true to my own identity as a cricketer.
“I think that’s really something I’m tapping back into. Over a period of time that’s the way I’ve played and that’s what I want to get out of this tournament and going forward.
“Over the rest of my career I want to be true to that and if I can I’ll be very content.”
The match begins at 9am GMT, with the toss at 8.30am.
"The mood in the camp is really excited" ????
Jos Buttler describes a feeling of "huge optimism" within the England team as they look to start their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia ???? pic.twitter.com/YftdPayNu3
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 22, 2025
