England posted a formidable total of 351-8 on Saturday, highlighted by Ben Duckett’s record-breaking 165, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. The Australian bowling attack was notably missing Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins.
The target appeared challenging as no team had previously chased such a high total in either the Champions Trophy or any ICC ODI competition.England’s position strengthened when they reduced Australia to 27-2 and later 136-4, with Australia missing key players Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Cameron Green.
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The match turned dramatically as Josh Inglis scored an unbeaten 120 off 86 balls, supported by Alex Carey’s 69 from 63 deliveries and Glenn Maxwell’s quick 32 not out from 15 balls. Australia successfully completed the chase with 15 balls remaining.
“Australia [were] missing all their players,” Hussain told Sky Sports after the game. “The expectancy was there… today may not be their day. Maybe they will miss their bowling attack. I think England … when Duckett was smashing it and got 165, and [they were] getting up towards 350-plus, you were thinking maybe England have found a formula. Maybe these conditions will suit England.”
England’s strategy to strengthen their batting led them to rely on part-time bowlers. Liam Livingstone and Joe Root combined figures were 1-73 in 11 overs.
“They can’t work out whether to play the extra batter, which they did today,” added Hussain. “That means their bowling is a bit short. Or play one of their bowling all-rounders, [Gus] Atkinson or [Jamie] Overton. But then, their batting would have been short.”
“I think recent cricket has shown the value of one individual, and that is Ben Stokes. That Ben Stokes character and individual makes your balance of batting and bowling much more comfortable, and I think he’s a big loss.”
Ben Stokes has been absent from List A cricket since the 2023 World Cup and hasn’t played T20Is for England since the 2022 T20 World Cup. His limited-overs participation in 2024 consisted of three matches for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.