Paceman Josh Hazlewood has admitted it’s in Australia’s best interests to “get England out” of the Twenty20 World Cup, raising the prospect of controversial go-slow tactics in their final group match against Scotland.
Australia are marching ominously towards a unique trifecta after a record victory against Namibia at the Twenty20 World Cup in Antigua on Wednesday (AEST).
Adam Zampa celebrates a wicket with Matthew Wade, left, and Mitchell Marsh, right.Credit: Getty Images
The crushing nine-wicket win at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, chasing down a target of 73 in just 5.4 overs, came without Mitchell Starc and sealed Australia’s spot in the Super 8 stage, where the tournament gets serious.
But there will be little motivation for Australia to thrash Scotland in similar style in their next group game this weekend due to a quirk in the International Cricket Council’s points system, with the net run rate reset for the Super 8 stage.
Hazlewood is unsure whether Australia will adopt some gamesmanship to help generate an early England exit.
“We’ve had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket. So if we can get them out of the tournament, that’s in our best interest as well as probably everyone else,” Hazlewood told a media conference.
Josh Hazlewood during the match against Namibia.Credit: AP
“It’ll be interesting to see. [We’ve] never really been in this position before as a team I don’t think.
“Whether we have discussions or not, or we just try and play again the way we played tonight, that’ll be up to people, not me.”
Hazlewood is aware of the risk of dabbling with winning form, but said there were “a few options” for Australia.
“Whether you get close and just knock it around and drag it out,” Hazlewood said.
“There’s a few options there.
“But as you said, to take confidence from winning and winning well, that’s almost more important than potentially trying to knock someone else out.
“They’ve [England] still got a lot to do on their behalf as well, so I think it’ll become clearer the closer we get to that sort of stuff.”
Starc, who was nursing a sore left calf, suffered cramp in the opening game against Oman and played the next match against England but was rested against Namibia as a precaution. He wasn’t missed.
Namibia were still bowled out for 72, the lowest score batting first against Australia in a completed T20 international.
Adam Zampa won his second successive player of the match award, claiming 4-12 from four overs and becoming the first Australian man to take 100 T20 international wickets.
Australia are attempting to add the T20 World Cup crown to the World Test Championship and one-day World Cup titles they won last year.
On the form of the past week, they will take some stopping. The play Scotland on Sunday morning (AEST), but it is superfluous for Australia, with three victories in Group B enough to put them through to the next stage.
However, the match has enormous implications for reigning T20 champions England. After two victories, and a washout against England, Scotland could push their winless southern neighbours out of the tournament in what would be a major boilover.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said the match against Scotland could be an opportunity to rest players. Coach Andrew McDonald made similar comments earlier this week.
Marsh said keeping players free was “really important”, with half the side having played a significant role in the IPL over the previous two months.
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“It’s obviously great to qualify for the Super 8s,” Marsh said. “We get pretty busy after our game against Scotland, so we’ll manage as many people as we can over the next few days.”
Marsh was full of praise for Zampa.
“If you look at his career, especially over the last four or five years, he’s probably our most important player in terms of how we structure up,” he said.
“He loves the big moment, loves the pressure. I think that comes with experience. And he’s bowling beautifully at the moment, so we’re lucky to have him.”
Despite his impressive performance, Zampa played down his 100 T20I wickets, saying he wasn’t at his best.
“I bowled a couple of pies tonight to get some wickets. That happens,” he said. “In general, the ball feels like it’s coming out well. I’m being encouraged to take wickets through the middle overs from the captain in particular, so I’m just trying to do my thing.”