United News of Bangladesh

In the fast-paced world of international cricket, few rises have been as rapid and transformative as that of Ben Duckett. The left-handed opener has become a linchpin for England across formats, epitomising the fearless “Bazball” philosophy that has revitalised the team under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. From his early days as a schoolboy prodigy to his current status as one of the world’s most dynamic batters, Duckett’s journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and unrelenting ambition. His performances in 2025 – including a record-shattering 165 against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy – have cemented his reputation as a global star, while a supportive sporting family and newfound perspective as a father keep him grounded and driven. Dominating 2025 with Bazball Aggression Duckett’s 2025 has been a year of milestones, showcasing his ability to thrive under pressure in all formats. In February, he made history in the Champions Trophy by blasting 165 off 143 balls (with 17 fours and 3 sixes) against Australia. It was the highest individual score in the tournament’s history at the time and stands as the fifth-highest one-day score ever by an England batter. Duckett’s aggressive yet controlled innings dismantled a world-class Australian bowling attack, drawing praise from fans and pundits alike. England great Jonathan Agnew noted that Duckett “would have been infuriating to bowl at” and is establishing himself as “one of the most versatile and destructive batters across all formats”. Even in Test cricket, Duckett continued to shine: he struck a brisk 62 in the first innings and a match-winning 149 in the second innings of England’s thrilling chase against India at Headingley, Leeds. Former captain Michael Vaughan was so impressed that he hailed Duckett as arguably the top all-format opener in the world, ahead of the likes of Aiden Markram and Travis Head. “Pound for pound, I reckon he is the best all-format batsman in international cricket right now,” Vaughan wrote, noting that while others excel in one format, none match Duckett’s impact across all three. Duckett’s versatility extends to the shortest format as well. He was part of England’s squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and remains a force in white-ball cricket. Domestically, he stars for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred and has honed his game in franchise leagues like Australia’s Big Bash and Pakistan’s PSL. His ability to adapt and dominate in any arena underlines his global appeal. As BBC’s Agnew put it, Duckett is “one of the best all-format batters in the world” – a bowler’s nightmare who can make good deliveries vanish to the boundary. Read more: Najmul steps down as Bangladesh Test captain after Colombo defeat A Journey of Resilience and Redemption Duckett’s path to international stardom began in Farnborough, Kent, where he was born in 1994. Raised in a sports-loving family – his mother, Jayne, represented Britain in lacrosse – he grew up immersed in competition. He attended Stowe School on a sports scholarship, excelling in cricket, hockey, and football. His school coach James Knott credits Duckett’s hockey background for his mastery of the reverse sweep, an audacious shot that has become a hallmark of his batting. Indeed, by the time Duckett arrived at Stowe, he “could already play the reverse sweep and switch hit” thanks to those hockey-honed skills. At age 17, Duckett debuted for Northamptonshire in 2012 while still studying for his A-levels. He soon blossomed into a domestic run machine. In 2015 he amassed 1,002 County Championship runs at an average of 52.73, and in 2016 he exploded with a career-best 282* and over 1,300 first-class runs. That year he swept the Cricket Writers’ and PCA Young Player of the Year awards, earning a call-up to England’s Test and ODI squads. However, early international success proved elusive. He struggled against quality spin in India in late 2016 and was dropped after a few low scores. Then, in 2017, a moment of poor judgement on an Ashes tour – pouring a drink over teammate James Anderson in a Perth bar – led to a suspension and stalled his England hopes. These setbacks could have derailed Duckett, but instead they became fuel for his comeback. His redemption arc began in 2022 when the new Bazball ethos created an opening for his aggressive style. Recalled for the tour of Pakistan, Duckett immediately justified the faith: he struck a blazing maiden Test century (107 off 110 balls) in his first match back and piled up 357 runs in that 3-0 series sweep at an average over 70. He even weathered a painful blow to the thumb to score 85 in England’s record-breaking innings of 823/7 declared in Multan. Since re-establishing himself, Duckett has not looked back. He notched his highest Test score, 182, against Ireland in 2023, and by 2024 he had become the fastest batsman in history to reach 2,000 Test runs in terms of balls faced – a testament to his brisk scoring rate. Forming a formidable opening partnership with fellow Bazballer Zak Crawley, Duckett has consistently given England rapid starts. In one 2024 home Test, he smashed a 32-ball half-century on his way to 71 off 59 against the West Indies, a knock made all the more memorable as he raced the clock with his first child’s birth imminent. Such an innings, full of intent and imagination, has firmly entrenched him in England’s plans. Read more: Devon Conway left out of New Zealand squad for T20 tri-series against Zimbabwe, South Africa Family, Fatherhood and Fearless Motivation Behind Duckett’s success is a close-knit family and a fresh outlook on life. His father, Graham, a financial adviser and Marylebone Cricket Club member, doubles as his agent and has been a steady guiding figure. Duckett also has two sisters, Meg and Emma, who stay out of the limelight but remain part of his support system. In December 2023, he got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, model Paige Ogborne, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Margot, in July 2024. Becoming a father has given Duckett a new sense of perspective. “It’s been different for so many reasons,” he said of balancing cricket with parenthood, “but I’ve found it really switches me off between games. I don’t spend as long... dwelling on what’s happened.” Whether he has a good day or a bad day on the field, the simple duty of changing diapers at home keeps him grounded. “Suddenly, there’s something more important than cricket and scoring runs,” Duckett reflected, noting that fatherhood has helped him move past failures faster. This mental freedom has arguably made him an even more dangerous player, allowing him to play with the uninhibited joy that Bazball encourages.

Former Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan believes India’s success was ensured with the decision to include an extra spinner in the middle of the ICC Champions Trophy. India marched to the final without suffering any defeat. In the final, they are taking on New Zealand who they beat in the group-stage game.  Dhawan pointed to their group-stage clash against New Zealand as a key moment when the team’s strategy clicked into place. That was the game where leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, playing just his second ODI, delivered a stunning five-wicket haul (5 for 42), cementing his place in the squad. “India have played great cricket throughout … but a key moment came in a change of personnel midway through the competition,” Dhawan told the ICC. The spinner’s impact has convinced Dhawan that India will lift the trophy on Sunday, especially given the spin-friendly conditions in Dubai. Santner confident as New Zealand ready for Champions Trophy final against India “I believe India’s spinners will be too strong for New Zealand’s batters, who will find it hard to get hold of Varun Chakaravarthy – he will play a major role,” he said. “Our batting unit is doing very well, the whole team is playing good cricket, and I think – and hope – that will continue.” Beyond Chakaravarthy, Dhawan also praised the contributions of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami. Kohli has been India’s batting anchor, while Shami has played a crucial role despite Dubai’s spin-friendly surfaces. Shami’s performance has been especially crucial in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from injury. “To win the Champions Trophy, you have to have the whole team performing well,” Dhawan said. “One player can win you a game but not a trophy. India have done that throughout.”

Steve Smith has retired from one-day international cricket in the wake of Australia’s Champions Trophy semifinal loss to India. Cricket Australia issued a statement Wednesday to confirm the former skipper’s retirement from the 50-over version of the game. Smith will continue to play test cricket for Australia and remains available for selection in the Twenty20 format. The decision means the 35-year-old batter won’t be available for Australia’s World Cup defense in 2027 despite standing in for Pat Cummins as captain for the Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan. In his last ODI innings, Smith top-scored for Australia with 76 runs from 96 deliveries but his team lost by four wickets to India at Dubai on Tuesday night and narrowly missed out on reaching the tournament final. Smith was part of victorious ODI World Cup campaigns in 2015 and 2023, and said those were career highlights in the format. “It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it,” Smith said in a statement. “Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, so it feels like the right time to make way.” Champions Trophy: New Zealand secure final spot with 50-run win over South Africa In the test format, where matches are played across five days, Smith has scored 10,271 runs in 116 tests, including 36 centuries and 41 half-centuries, and averages 56.74 per innings. His next assignment will be in Australia's attempt to defend the World Test Championship in June's final against South Africa at Lord's and in the subsequent test tour to the Caribbean. Australia hosts the Ashes against England starting in November. “Test cricket remains a priority and I am really looking forward to the World Test Championship Final, the West Indies (tour) and then England at home," Smith said. "I feel I still have a lot to contribute on that stage.” After making his international debut against the West Indies in 2010 as a leg-spinning allrounder, Smith played 170 ODIs and tallied 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28, including 12 centuries. Smith was Australia's ODI player of the year in 2015 and 2021 and was part of the International Cricket Council's ODI team of the year in 2015. Australia's selection committee chairman George Bailey said Smith remained "fully committed to test cricket and is an integral member of and leader within that team.” “Steve has said on many occasions he is approaching the remainder of his playing career on a series-by-series basis, a position which hasn’t changed and one Cricket Australia supports," Bailey said. “To leave the format as a two-time World Cup winner cements his legacy as one of the great Australian ODI players.”

Centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson propelled New Zealand to a big total of 362 for 6 in their Champions Trophy semifinal against South Africa at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, New Zealand made a steady start despite losing opener Will Young for 21. Ravindra and Williamson then took charge, adding 164 runs for the second wicket. Ravindra led the way with a 108 off 101 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six. Williamson matched his partner’s brilliance, scoring 102 off 94 deliveries, with 10 boundaries and two sixes. Ravindra reached his century off 93 balls, while Williamson completed his hundred off 91 balls, giving New Zealand a strong platform to push for a big total. Even after both set batters departed, Daryl Mitchell’s quickfire 49 from 37 balls and Glenn Phillips’ explosive unbeaten 49 off just 27 deliveries ensured New Zealand did not lose momentum in the final overs. Steve Smith retires from ODI cricket after Champions Trophy South Africa’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with Lungi Ngidi taking 3 for 72. Kagiso Rabada claimed two wickets but was also expensive, conceding 70 runs in his 10 overs. Marco Jansen, who opened the bowling, went wicketless while giving away 79 runs. With 362 on the board, New Zealand put themselves in a strong position to reach the final, where India is already waiting after defeating Australia in the first semifinal.

Australia won the toss and elected to field against England in its opening Group B game on Saturday at the Champions Trophy. Australia is being led by Steven Smith after its World Cup-winning pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were ruled out of tournament due to injuries and personal reasons. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis has announced a surprise retirement from ODIs. Fast bowlers Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson were drafted into the playing XI to fill in the big shoes of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc with Adam Zampa the only frontline spinner. Australia didn’t have an ideal preparation for the tournament after losing the home series 2-1 to Pakistan and was also whitewashed 2-0 in Sri Lanka earlier this month. England, coming into the Champions Trophy after a 3-0 loss in India, has promoted wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith to No. 3 which means Joe Root will be batting down at No. 4. Smith will take over the wicketkeeping gloves from Phil Salt after recovering from a calf injury. ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rickelton, Markram lift South Africa to 315 against Afghanistan England go into the opening game with four specialist bowlers and will be heavily relying on the pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer upfront with Brydon Carse as the other pace option. Liam Livingstone and Root will make up for the fifth bowler with leg-spinner Adil Rashid as the sole specialist spin option in the playing XI. Pakistan is hosting its first major ICC tournament in 29 years since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. New Zealand and India won their opening group A games against Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively while South Africa began its campaign in Group B with 107-run victory against Afghanistan at Karachi on Friday. Lineups: England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.