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England batter Ben Duckett etched his name in the record books with a stunning 165-run knock against Australia in their first match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Duckett’s explosive innings, played at a strike rate of 115.38, saw him smash 3 sixes and 17 boundaries, helping England post a massive 351-run total.
Duckett & Root’s Crucial Partnership Powers England Past 350
After an early wobble, Duckett and Joe Root steadied the innings with a crucial 158-run stand for the third wicket. Root, though, fell short of his century, scoring a solid 68 off 78 balls. England’s lower order contributed as well, with Jofra Archer smashing an unbeaten 21 off 10 balls, ensuring England crossed the 350-run mark.
Ben Duckett Creates History in Champions Trophy
With his 165-run innings, Duckett not only powered England to victory but also became the highest individual scorer in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy. The previous record, which stood for 23 years, belonged to *Andy Flower (145) and Nathan Astle (145)**. Duckett is now the first batsman to score 150+ in the tournament’s history.
Top Individual Scores in ICC Champions Trophy History
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Ben Duckett (England, 2025) | 165 |
| Andy Flower (Zimbabwe, 2002) | 145* |
| Nathan Astle (New Zealand, 2004) | 145 |
| Sourav Ganguly (India, 2000) | 141* |
| Sachin Tendulkar (India, 1998) | 141 |
Before Duckett’s knock, the highest score in the tournament was 145 by Andy Flower against India (2002)* and 145 by Nathan Astle against the USA (2004).
Highest Individual Scores by England Batsmen in Champions Trophy
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Ben Duckett (2025) | 165 |
| Joe Root (2017) | 133* |
| Marcus Trescothick (2002) | 119 |
| Ben Stokes (2017) | 102* |
| Owais Shah (2006) | 98 |
Duckett overtook Joe Root’s 133 against Bangladesh (2017)* to become England’s highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy history.
England & Australia Desperate for a Win in Champions Trophy
Both England and Australia came into this game on the back of disappointing ODI series losses. England was whitewashed 3-0 by India, while Australia suffered back-to-back defeats against Sri Lanka, who didn’t qualify for the Champions Trophy.
One of these teams was set to break their losing streak, and England delivered with a dominant batting display.
Upcoming Fixtures
England’s Next Matches:
vs Afghanistan – February 26
vs South Africa – March 1
Australia’s Next Matches:
vs South Africa – February 25
vs Afghanistan – February 28
With a strong start to the tournament, England will look to carry their momentum forward, while Australia will aim to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures. Can Duckett continue his dream run? Fans will be eagerly watching!
