Former South Africa cricketer Herschelle Gibbs has blamed Ben Duckett's "slow" batting for England's loss against Australia in Champions Trophy 2025 on Saturday (February 22).
In their opening match of the tournament, England scored 351-8, the highest total in Champions Trophy history. Duckett spearheaded the record batting effort with a 143-ball 165, becoming the first batter to smash a 150-plus score in the tournament. Duckett’s innings eventually went in vain as Australia gunned down the total with five wickets and 15 balls remaining, riding on Josh Iglis' 120 not out off 86.
The demoralising loss has garnered various kinds of mixed reactions since then, with a gutted Liam Livingstone feeling England "did not deserve to lose" the match. Gibbs is now the latest to chime in, surprisingly criticising Duckett for England's loss.
Also read: England quick to miss Afghanistan game, in doubt for remainder of Champions Trophy
Match 4, Australia vs England
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- Ball by ball Over
Gibbs: Duckett scored too slow
"Two examples in the space of a few weeks in odis, where batters facing 140 plus balls end up losing. Face that many balls you must have atleast 190-200," Gibbs wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
2 examples in the space of a few weeks in odis , where batters facing 140 plus balls end up losing . Face that many balls you must have atleast 190-200.
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) February 23, 2025
In response to that, an X user commented: "It's hard to say that England should've scored more runs after they scored 350. They should've won after scoring 350, needed to take their catches and I'm afraid their bowling was not that good and dew didn't help. Bowling too dependent on Adil Rashid."
Gibbs replied: "Duckett cost them the game .. scored to (too) slow mate .. they should have got to atleast 380 .. same with breetske [Matthew Breetzke] the other day."
Duckett cost them the game .. scored to slow mate .. they should have got to atleast 380 .. same with breetske the other day
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) February 23, 2025
Gibbs also cited South Africa opener Matthew Breetzke’s record-breaking 148-ball 150 on debut earlier this month in the tri-series game against New Zealand to support his claim.
"Mate breetske [Breetzke] faced 147 balls and got 150 and they also lost the other day .. you face that many balls in todays cricket you have to get 200 plus"
Mate breetske faced 147 balls and got 150 and they also lost the other day .. you face that many balls in todays cricket you have to get 200 plus
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) February 23, 2025
Breetzke was dismissed off the second ball of the 46th over, leaving South Africa at 263-4. They eventually made 304-6, which New Zealand chased comfortably with the help of a Kane Williamson masterclass.
England's next match is against Afghanistan on February 26. Given their semi-final hopes took a beating with the loss against Australia, it would be an important clash for them.
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