T20 World Cup 2024 | "It's probably against the spirit of cricket": Cummins on underperforming vs SCO

Pat Cummins. Pic/PTI

Pat Cummins opened up on Australia's fixture against Scotland. In an attempt to drive England out of the T20 World Cup 2024, underperforming against Scootland would be against the "spirit of cricket".

Star pacer Josh Hazlewood created a controversy when he said it would be in Australia's hands to drive defending champions England out of the T20 World Cup 2024. The Aussies have already secured their spot in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. Hazlewood suggested they could ease up in their closing Group B game against Scotland this weekend to engineer their bitter rivals' exit.

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The scenario now appears less likely after the "Three Lions" defeated Oman on Thursday. With this, the Englishmen have improved their net run rate compared to Scotland. Additionally, Jos Buttler-led side is yet to play their T20 World Cup 2024 final group stage game against Namibia.

England coach Matt Mott an Australian said he hoped Hazlewood was joking and Australia's Test and one-day skipper Cummins assured him that the bowler was. "When you go out and play you're trying your best every time. And if you're not, it's probably against the spirit of cricket," Cummins told reporters in St Lucia.

"I don't think you can (go into a game not trying to win) ever. You're playing an international game in the middle of a World Cup. "You still want to try and have a good game and carry that on into the Super Eights. I've never stepped onto the field without the mindset of being aggressive, like the guys have so far." Cummins said he had spoken to Hazlewood and the comments were tongue-in-cheek and "got taken a bit out of context."

"We'll go out there and try to play Scotland, who have had a really good tournament so far, so it's going to be tough," he said. "It's something you discuss as one of the quirks of the set-up, but it does it change the way we play? Absolutely not."

(With AFP Inputs)