"Knocking England Out Early Is In Our Best Interests" - Josh Hazlewood On Plotting England's T20 World Cup 2024 Exit

Star Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood stated that eliminating England from the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 would benefit the Australian team and possibly everyone else. Hazlewood made these comments after Australia's decisive nine-wicket victory over Namibia, securing their spot in the Super Eight stage. Australia qualified for the Super 8 stage, taking their run rate to +3.580. However, Hazlewood also found it a bit strange that their superior net run rate after three comprehensive wins will count for nothing in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. With run rates not carrying forward to the Super Eights in this tournament, Australia's hopes would not be damaged if they took their foot off the pedal.

Josh Hazlewood reveals their plans for England's T20 World Cup 2024 exit

Josh Hazlewood has admitted that Australia might give a crack at reducing the margin of victory over Scotland to knock England out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 if given the opportunity. The exact outcomes won't be known until England have played Oman and Namibia. A defeat against either team will end England's tournament.

"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, and 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," Josh Hazlewood said.

Australia could win their final group match by a close enough margin to ensure that Scotland advances at the expense of England. Talking about the Carribean World Cup, run rates do not carry forward to the Super Eights, so Australia's hopes would remain unaffected if they ease off. Hazlewood noted that it was odd that no benefits were derived from the group stage performances. 

"It's a little bit strange that it doesn't go through the tournament. This is probably the first T20 World Cup I've played that's set up this way or the first World Cup in general that's set up this way, so it's a little bit different. If you go through undefeated and have a good net run-rate, doesn't really account for much once you're in the Super Eights. So, yeah, it's a strange one, but that's how it is," Hazlewood added.

On the flip side, even Namibia could render all calculations unnecessary if they can cause an upset in their final game against England. However, skipper Gerhard Erasmus remained diplomatic amidst the Australia-England rivalry. Talking about the Super Eight qualification scenario, England is currently 4th in the Group B points table with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of -1.800.

Defending champions England have two matches remaining against Oman on June 13 and Namibia on June 15. Scotland's NRR is +2.164, and they will face Australia in the final group match on June 16. Although England is in trouble now, they can still qualify for the Super Eights with a bit of help from their arch-rivals Australia.