The Mitchell Marsh-led Australia had qualified for the Super 8 stage with three consecutive wins. More than Australian fans, England had their eyes glued to the clash against Scotland. In the end, it became too close for comfort as Australia achieved the target set by the Scottish with just two balls to spare. As Australian fielders had a bad day at the office with six catches being dropped, there were questions over players’ intentions as Josh Hazlewood had said that they would want England to get knocked out of the tournament. After the five-wicket win in St Lucia, Mitchell Starc said that Hazlewood’s comments were ‘blown out of proportion’.
"I think a throwaway line has been blown right out of proportion by you lot," Starc said.
"You don't stuff around with mother cricket and trying to worry about other results. We're here to win games. It's international cricket. England now are on the other side of the draw, so it really doesn't make that much difference for the next three games. So yeah, I think that was blown right out of proportion by you guys."
Starc on dropped catches
Starc remained wicketless and conceded 31 runs in his quota of four overs. Adam Zampa dropped a catch off his own bowling. However, it was only one of the six dropped catches. The left-arm pacer acknowledged that they had a terrible day in the field.
“We certainly dropped the mark in the field… It didn't feel different. It's still a World Cup game, you're still playing for Australia and you still try to take wickets and win games."
Trying options before facing India
Starc also revealed that they experimented a bit considering they will face India in Super 8 clash at the same venue on June 24.
"We have another game here [against India] in the Super Eight, so [it was about] getting accustomed to or having a look at conditions here as well… having some batting time into our middle order and some of our spinners obviously getting some time in different situations in the bowling innings, it was a good hit out. That was all we wanted and then we push onto the Super Eights," he further added.
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