February 23, 2025: Following England’s tough loss to Australia in their ICC Champions Trophy campaign, England’s skipper Jos Buttler was both appreciative and reflective in his post-match comments. He expressed delight in Ben Duckett’s incredible record-breaking performance but also acknowledged Australia’s clinical chase of a massive total of 352 runs.
Duckett’s 165 runs, which set a new record for the highest-ever individual score in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy, was a standout effort. However, his remarkable knock was overshadowed by Josh Inglis’ century, and key contributions from Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell, which helped Australia secure a five-wicket victory over England in Lahore.
In the post-match presentation, Buttler was gracious, saying, “Fantastic game, both sides played really well. We put on a really good score there. Credit to Australia. Fantastic innings there from Josh Inglis to see his side home. I think 350 you would take that at the start. Pretty good score. Dew was a worry and it was wet. Whatever happens with the conditions, to chase down 350 is a fantastic effort.”
Buttler was full of praise for Duckett, who had been in sensational form, stating, “He (Duckett) played brilliantly. He has been brilliant at the top of the order in all the formats. He can be incredibly consistent in this format. Delighted for him with the way he played. Just a shame it is in a losing cause.” The England captain also emphasized the importance of partnerships, noting, “Rather, focus on partnerships rather than individuals. Take the focus off yourself and work on getting those big partnerships.”
He also mentioned the efforts of other players like Joe Root and Liam Livingstone, who bowled well and created opportunities. However, despite England’s best attempts to break the partnership between Inglis and Carey, Buttler was quick to admit, “Sometimes, you have to give credit to the opposition.” The England skipper ended with a nod to Australia’s excellent performance, saying, “Credit to Australia. We tried to find ways to break that partnership between Inglis and Carey earlier but just couldn’t manage it.”
The game was a hard-fought encounter, with both teams displaying exceptional skills, but in the end, it was Australia who prevailed in the thrilling contest. Buttler’s comments showed both his admiration for his team’s performance and a sportsmanlike acknowledgment of Australia’s success.