"Josh English" thumps golf-drunk Pom's
OK, that's Inglis, not 'English'. It was clever wording from a 'bone-dry' Mike Atherton!
I previously wrote how challenging the Champions Trophy can be, a tournament historically known for following little or no convention. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone when an undermanned Australia chases down England’s 8 for 351 with 15 balls to spare, leaving one of the tournament picks facing a lose-again-and-go-home dilemma.
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Ben Duckett won the game’s top-scorer wager with an accomplished 165, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history, contributing close to half of England’s runs. While he remains one of the most infuriating players in world cricket, Duckett must now be recognised as one of England’s best multi-format batters. Joe Root supported with 68 (78 balls) in a 158-run partnership, while the rest withered on the vine, as is their tendency.
In 15 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, England have only produced four individual centuries. Duckett has half of them. If you believe the team’s commentary, this makes perfect sense, as they really don’t care if they lose—they are positive the rest of us just don’t get it. To be honest, they seem more invested in their golf handicaps than their win-loss record.
For some perspective, yesterday Virat Kohli posted his 51st ODI century, a remarkable achievement that dwarfs England’s entire team tally. For additional context: Joe Root, England’s most consistent batter, has 16 ODI centuries, while their most inconsistent, Liam Livingstone, has just one.
Australia’s Josh Inglis, the game’s other centurion and a Johnny-come-lately to the green and gold after spending the early part of his life growing up in Leeds, equaled and then surpassed Duckett’s earlier efforts with a runaway 120 not out from just 86 balls.
Unlike Duckett, Inglis received consistent support from his teammates. Matt Short (63 from 66) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 from 45) combined for a 95-run partnership. Then, Alex Carey (69 from 63) helped Inglis add 146 for the fifth wicket, and Glenn Maxwell (32* from 15) finished the job, adding an unbroken 74-run partnership. Only Travis Head and Steve Smith missed out.
Since July 2023, when Lord’s erupted following an after-the-fact stumping, things have not gone well for England in their match-ups with the Aussies. Some argue that Australia was the instigator, but it was England who started slinging the mud first, and in light of recent results, they are a long way from finishing the exchange.
The defeat handed England its 17th loss in 24 ODIs, including all of the last five.
Josh Inglis’s maiden ODI century stole the headlines, and rightly so—such was the quality and precision of his strokeplay. Much has been made of his journey: born in Leeds and raised in Perth. As Gideon Haigh noted, historically Leeds has not been kind to Australia, but now it has gifted them a gem.
Haigh also pointed out that Inglis is only the game’s twenty-sixth player to record hundreds in all three formats. Among the current Australian team, he only has Glenn Maxwell for company—David Warner is the other Australian. It’s reasonable to say there are few you’d miss in a trivia question.
As Inglis secured victory for his adopted country, Mike Atherton was broadcasting. He quipped, “what a fine innings from Josh English.” Atherton himself grew up under a bleak and dull north Manchester landscape.
For those who have labeled Atherton’s humour “bone-dry,” I have to let you in on the best-kept secret going around: Mike Atherton is a funny bugger. He’s cheeky and has a wicked turn of phrase when needed. I’m not sure why he doesn’t use it more.
After asking Steve Smith if Inglis “still had his English passport,” Smith made it clear, replying, “you’ll have to ask him! But he’s not going anywhere.”
So, where does it all land?
Group A is all but decided, with India and New Zealand both having two wins from two games. England and Australia’s group looks much tighter. Australia and South Africa both have one win from one game played, with England and Afghanistan sitting third and fourth. It feels like there might be some jokers played in the remaining games. Tonight, Australia play South Africa—the winner will go through to the next stage. England will need to beat Afghanistan, and then their fate will depend on tonight’s result. If South Africa lose, England will need to beat them in their last game to qualify.
Nick
Ps. It irks me to say Pom’s—but headlines are just that!