The finalists of T20 World Cup 2022 face a tough challenge in the ongoing edition. England and Pakistan don’t just need to ensure they win their remaining games but will be dependent on the results of other games as well. After Australia cemented their berth in the Super 8 stage, pacer Josh Hazlewood said that knocking England out of the tournament is in their interest and everyone else’s.
England need to beat Namibia and Oman in their remaining two games comprehensively to ensure they have a chance of advancing to the Super 8 stage. In the last clash of Group B, Australia will go up against Scotland. Until and unless England win get their NRR over Scotland in these two games, there will be a chance for Scotland to knock out the defending champions even if they lose to Australia.
In the post-match press conference, Hazlewood was asked whether they would make it difficult for England to qualify for Super 8, he replied, “"Yeah, I think so.
“In this tournament you potentially come up against England at some stage again and they're probably one of the top few teams on their day.
"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's."
Will Australia take a leaf out of Waugh’s book?
Hazlewood feels that it will depend on match situation and whether Australia on the day that they need to register a comprehensive win against Scotland to take the confidence into Super 8.
"Not too sure really, whether you get close and just knock it around and drag it out," Hazlewood said on chances of Australia pulling off what Steve Waugh’s side did against West Indies to knock out New Zealand in World Cup 1999.
"There's a few options there, but to take confidence from winning and winning well, I think that's almost more important than potentially trying to knock someone else out.
"They've 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."
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
