Cummins reassures England over Hazlewood World Cup ‘exit’ comments

AFP | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Pat Cummins ruled out Thursday the prospect of Australia underperforming against Scotland in a bid to oust rivals England from the Twenty20 World Cup, saying it would be against the “spirit of cricket.”.

Bowling spearhead Josh Hazlewood caused controversy this week when he said it would be in Australia’s interests for reigning champions England to be out of the competition.

Australia have already secured their place in the next round, the Super Eights, and he suggested they could ease up in their closing Group B game against Scotland this weekend to engineer their bitter rivals’ exit.

That scenario now appears less likely after England crushed Oman by eight wickets on Thursday to move above Scotland on net run rate with a final game to come 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.