As Australia prepares for their final group stage match against Scotland, there’s likely to be some rotation in the line up to give players game time before the Super Eights. Australian captain Pat Cummins asserted that his team would never consider manipulating their net run rate to knock out England from the T20 World Cup 2024, stating that such tactics would violate the Spirit of Cricket.
Previously, Australia faced a hypothetical scenario where they could have strategically limited their victory margin against Scotland to eliminate England. However, this is no longer relevant after England's dominant win over Oman significantly boosted their net run rate. Now, if England defeats Namibia, Scotland must win against Australia to advance to the Super Eights.
Earlier in the week, Josh Hazlewood stirred controversy by suggesting that it might benefit Australia and other teams to eliminate England if the opportunity arose. Cummins clarified that Hazlewood's comments were made in jest and reiterated that Australia would never adopt such a tactic. Cummins, who was involved in a Spirit of Cricket debate during the Ashes at Lord's last year, affirmed that Australia always aims to play their best and that any deviation from this would be against the sport's principles.
Speaking before the England-Oman result, Cummins remarked, "We always play with the intent to win, and anything else would be against the spirit of the game." He added that discussions about net run rate are part of the strategic considerations, but it does not alter their approach to the game. "We’ll focus on playing Scotland, who have performed well in the tournament and will be a tough opponent."
With no advantages in points or net run rate carrying over from the group stage to the Super Eights, Australia might rest some players against Scotland. Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, and Ashton Agar have yet to play in the tournament and might be given a chance before the next stage.
Mitchell Starc is expected to be available after missing the Namibia match due to calf soreness from the game against England. Cummins, who was rested for the opening match against Oman with Nathan Ellis stepping in, mentioned that he hasn't discussed player rotation with the selectors but anticipates some changes. "Ideally, we'd like to give all squad members some game time," he said.
Despite the potential rotation, Cummins does not foresee resting players during the Super Eights, even with the prospect of five matches in ten days and travel between games. "This rotation is a luxury for the group stage, but in the Super Eights, we’ll likely field our strongest team every match," Cummins stated. "We are accustomed to such schedules from playing Test cricket and leagues like the IPL and BBL. Managing our workload involves prioritising rest and recovery, but we are well-prepared for the demands."
Cummins, participating in this tournament under Mitchell Marsh’s captaincy, affirmed that the team is ready for the busy schedule ahead and will continue to perform at their best.