Ahead of Australia’s game against Scotland in the ongoing T20 World Cup, ace pacer Josh Hazlewood made a statement that stirred quite a controversy in the cricketing world. The 33-year-old suggested that Australia might consider surrendering the game to Scotland to eliminate England from the tournament. However, when the match unfolded, Australia played to win and secured a victory against Scotland by five wickets.
Hazlewood’s provocative comment sparked discussions and rumors about potential disciplinary actions, including the suspension of skipper Mitchell Marsh, if Australia were found to be manipulating the match results. Mitchell Starc, another key player for Australia, addressed the media frenzy surrounding the issue, expressing his frustration over how the story was handled. Starc emphasized that Australia’s focus remains solely on winning and that they would never tamper with the integrity of international cricket.
“I think a throwaway line has been blown right out of proportion by you lot,” Mithcell Starc remarked during his post-match press conference, directing his comments towards the assembled media.
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He continued, “You don’t mess around with the spirit of cricket and 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 much difference for the next three games. So yeah, I think that was blown right out of proportion by you guys.”
Mitchell Starc, who had to leave the field early against Oman due to a niggle and was rested during the match against Namibia, made a strong return against Scotland. Despite conceding 31 runs in his four overs, he looked fit and ready for the challenges ahead in the Super 8 stage. Reflecting on his fitness, Starc explained how he managed his condition and preparation for the crucial matches.
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“I had that cramp in the Oman game, and it sort of lingered through the England game. I had a scan, and it was all clear, so I took the extra few days off for the Namibia game. Coming back today, I felt good to go. I think it was better to rest during the first half of the tournament than when it gets busy in the second half,” Mithcell Starc explained.
With his return to form, Starc is optimistic about Australia’s prospects as they advance to the Super 8 stage, ensuring that their focus remains on maintaining the highest standards of performance and sportsmanship.
