'If we can get them out': Is Australia ready to help Scotland in knocking England? Hazlewood says...

Australia have become the first team to qualify for the Super 8 of T20 World Cup 2024 with an emphatic nine wicket victory over Namibia. Australia have dominated the entire group stage having won all three games against Oman, England and Namibia. 

Australia's final game is against Scotland and interestingly qualification hopes of their eternal rivals in England lie in the hands of Australia. If Australia lose against Scotland then Jos Buttler and his England side will face another early exit in a World Cup. And as it turns out the Aussies are looking to make English media and fans angry once again as the team is potentially looking to lose their game against Scotland to provide sucker punch to England's progression into Super 8.

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Australia thinking of losing to Scotland to knock England out of T20 World Cup 2024 

Australia's ace pacer, Josh Hazlewood post his side's victory over Namibia has confirmed that it will be in their best interests if England are knocked out of the World Cup in Group stages itself. 

“If we can get them out of the tournament then that's in our best interests as well as probably everyone else,” said Josh Hazlewood to Code Sports post Australia's victory. 

This is a big statement from Josh Hazlewood as it might be the first instance in recent years where a player has openly admitted to the idea of losing a competitive match. 

Josh Hazlewood has backed his statement by saying that England are one of the fiercest sides in T20 cricket hence putting the nail in the coffin when they have the chance is certainly worth a conversation. 

"In this tournament, you potentially come up against England at some stage again. And as I said, they're probably one of the top few teams, on the day or, you know, we've had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket,” said Josh Hazlewood.

Hazlewood has however mentioned that it is a decision that will be up to the team management and captain. 

“I've never really been in this position before as a team. I don't think so. Whether we have discussions or not or we just try and play it again the way we did tonight. Again, that'll be up to people, not me," said Hazlewood. 

Also Read | Updated T20 WC points table after Australia qualify for Super 8

England Qualification Scenario into Super 8

England have been a little unlucky with rain in their first game against Scotland but with the defeat to Australia in their next game, the defending champions currently have only one point on the board in Group B. 

Scotland are sitting second with five points, for England to qualify they need to defeat both Oman and Namibia in their last to games and take their tally to 5 points. They need to hope Australia beat Scotland by a decent margin so the three lions can qualify via net run rate.