Australia’s Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood revealed their determination to play their best against Scotland in the final group match of the Twenty20 World Cup, ruling out any intentions to go easy on their opponents in order to eliminate England. Despite Hazlewood’s earlier comments that suggested the team may focus on the run rate, Cummins clarified that it was made in jest and reiterated their focus on playing their best cricket without any strategic considerations.
Australia has already secured a spot in the Super Eight stage from Group B, while Scotland seemed poised to join them due to their superior net run-rate. However, England’s remarkable performance against Oman in their previous match has significantly boosted their net run-rate, putting them in a position to potentially overtake Scotland and advance to the next stage. With England expected to defeat Namibia in their final game, the race for the second spot in the Super Eight stage has become more intense.
Cummins dismissed any notions of strategic play based on net run-rate, emphasizing that the team’s primary focus is on playing their natural aggressive cricket against Scotland. He acknowledged the importance of net run-rate in the tournament but stated that it would not alter their approach to the game or their intent to dominate on the field. The team is prepared to face Scotland in what is expected to be a challenging match, given Scotland’s impressive performance in the tournament so far.
Despite Hazlewood’s previous comments about potentially eliminating England from the group phase to avoid facing them later in the tournament, Cummins clarified that it was meant as a joke and should not be taken out of context. The team remains focused on the upcoming match against Scotland and is determined to give their best performance without any strategic considerations affecting their approach. The players are committed to playing an aggressive and attacking style of cricket, as they have done throughout the tournament.
Australia’s upcoming match against Scotland is set to take place at Gros Islet in Saint Lucia, where the team will look to maintain their winning momentum and secure another victory. With their place in the Super Eight stage already confirmed, Australia will aim to continue their strong performance and carry their form into the next phase of the tournament. The players are ready to face the challenge posed by Scotland and showcase their skills on the field to secure another victory in the Twenty20 World Cup.