Leeds-born Coventry fan Inglis gives England blues with riotous knock

Josh Inglis has set his priorities right.

He checked his phone right away after the 120-run heroics he had played in Lahore to help Australia defeat England in the Champions Trophy.

Preston North End had won by a score of 2-1 to Coventry City. The Australian great had a good time thanks to it.

For Inglis, Australia’s match-winner who was born and raised in Yorkshire, supports the Sky Blues.

The 29-year-old, who was 14 years old, played for Yorkshire’s youth teams, and was honored by the West Yorkshire city’s famous musical sons, the Kaiser Chiefs, at the age of 24.

Inglis even acknowledged that he was still supporting England in 2017 as he attempted to fill Australia’s starting XI.

Inglis moved to Western Australia as a 15-year-old when his England-born mum, Sarah, and father, Martin, who was born in Coventry hence the football allegiance, moved the family down under. Any trace of Yorkshire twang was left on the plane.

He now speaks in a broad Australian accent, has a thick moustache, and wore a cap backwards and sliders while speaking to reporters.

His stunning assault lacked any loyalties.

Australia were 136-4 when Inglis began – England overwhelming favourites with Adil Rashid, Inglis ‘ former Yorkshire second XI team-mate, spinning a web.

Before flogging England’s bowlers whenever they dropped too short, he started by timing the ball across Lahore’s entire region. By the time it was all over the third man rope, he was performing Joe Root’s signature shot, which was played by another Yorkshireman.

Inglis has had a few international games, but his breakout season came last month. He made his Test debut last month, but this is his best performance so far.

“It was really special”, Inglis said. “Under the circumstances, in an ICC]International Cricket Council] event, you want to have an impact and win a game”.

Before this winter’s Ashes, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood followed with their dismissals of Travis Head and Steve Smith, who had landed the warning shots before the Ashes for much of Saturday.

For the side Inglis used to support, talk of the Ashes must wait. There were no clouds in Lahore, but for England – beaten in 11 of their past 15 matches – it still poured.

Their batting finally clicked on this day, only for a player born in their heartlands to surpass that mark in the Champions Trophy. Sometimes you can only smile.

“I just think, you’ve got to sometimes credit the opposition”, said a phlegmatic captain Jos Buttler. Josh Inglis “did a fantastic innings,” I thought.

In making a superb 165, Duckett played how most have requested. Instead of being slammed in a hurry, the attacking intent was reined in, gaps filled, and a score steadily increased.

In order to overcome their propensity to start well and depart, England’s top order was asked to score hundreds, and Duckett produced the nation’s highest score in a Champions Trophy or World Cup.

Their score of 351-8 was the highest at a Champions Trophy. Inglis’ continued progress may not have mattered as much as another 30.

In reality, England’s biggest mistake was made before Christmas in London, or at least after Jacob Bethell injured himself in Nagpur, not on Saturday in Lahore.

Their squad has four wicketkeepers, one specialist spinner and one batting all-rounder, meaning England will always lose their fight in search of the perfect balance.

When Brydon Carse had his most difficult day to date in an England shirt against Australia, Liam Livingstone and Joe Root both made an admirable fifth-bower debut.

Given that Bethell’s left-arm spin would have given him another option, it seems like England was more impacted by his injury than it initially appeared.

Without him Buttler now faces a defining week in his reign as England’s white-ball captain.

He can’t afford a group-stage exit here after their poor defense of their 50-over world title in 2023 and their unsuccessful attempt to retain their T20 crown last year.

Given the right to mold any England team he pleases until 2027, Matthew Mott was able to accept that he had failed, but Brendon McCullum, who has the right to do so, is not. If this group stage is not reversed, Buttler will be in the firing line.

In four days, Afghanistan, a nation that defeated England in the World Cup 16 months ago, will face South Africa, a country that some people consider to be the favorites for the title, with victories likely required in both.