Follow UsMitchell Starc said Josh Hazlewood’s comments on how it would be in Australia's "best interests" to knock England out at the group stage by dragging out their game against Scotland was a “throwaway line” which was “blown right out of proportion”. Starc also mentioned that he is not a fan of the advantage teams get who play last, knowing exactly what to do to qualify.
England’s NRR was well below Scotland’s but the former’s eight-wicket win with 16.5 overs to spare over Oman took their NRR above Scotland’s. England won their last two games, while Scotland lost to Australia on June 15 (Saturday) and were knocked out of the competition.
“I think there's a big question to be asked about the preceding. I'm not sure I'm a fan of that, but no, I think a throwaway line's been blown right out of proportion by you a lot. You don't stuff around with mother cricket and try to worry about other results. We're here to win games, it's international cricket. England are now on the other side of the draw so it really doesn't make that much difference for the next three games,” said Starc after Australia’s five-wicket win.
The likes of Ashton Agar and Nathan Ellis got some game time and Starc said this game provided Australia a good opportunity to give everyone a “good hit out” before the Super 8s. “I mean we were in a position where we had plenty of options on the table and we had a chance to rest obviously the two big boys and get some game time into Ash as well.
“We're in that position after three wins to be able to do that. Still coming out trying to win and play the way we want to play our cricket over here. And we have another game here in the Super 8, so getting accustomed or having a look at conditions here as well. I think having some batting time in our middle order, some of our spinners obviously getting some time in different situations in the bowling innings. I think it was a good hit out.”
Talking about the surface, Starc said: “I think that's the best surface we've played on so far. It's a very good wicket. We played here a few years ago in the COVID series here and it was five games against the West Indies. There were obviously guys that weren't on that tour that are here in the team so that was probably their first sight of it.
“But I think so far in the tournament that's the best cricket we've played on. It was good to bat on, I think the guys with the bat mentioned that throughout the innings. There was enough swing with the new ball and obviously spinners for both sides were capable of taking wickets. So, yeah, certainly the best wicket we've played on.”
It wasn’t a simple run-chase for Australia, with them needing close to 90 runs in the last seven overs. Travis Head (49-ball 68), Marcus Stoinis (29-ball 59) and Tim David (14-ball 24*) put on a show in the last few overs and finished the job in the final over. “I think we've got phenomenal power in our middle, well right through our order really, but when you've got Stoin and TD and even Wade in the middle there, they haven't had too many things to do the first few games.
“So, to have a good hit tonight or to get us home with the run rate going up a little bit and maybe being a comparatively a slowish start. It was good to get some time into those guys but Stoins obviously has done it. He got us going in the first game against Oman, his ball striking in the second half of the innings was phenomenal. He's in great touch which is good for us heading into the pointy end.”
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