ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Pat Cummins suggests Josh Hazlewood's comments about NRR manipulation "against the Spirit of Cricket"

Pat Cummins had made the air clear on Hazlewood’s remarks about the England team.

Pat Cummins has said that Josh Hazlewood was having a “bit of a joke” about Australia manipulating the net run rate of Scotland in their upcoming clash which could knock England out of the Super 8 race in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

A couple of days ago, Hazlewood had remarked that knocking England out of the tournament by minimising Australia’s margin of a potential victory over Scotland would be in Australia’s “best interest as well as probably everyone else.”

This comment from the lanky Aussie speedster sparked a huge controversy which forced people to point out that under Article 2.11 of the ICC’s code of conduct, the “inappropriate manipulation of a net run rate” by Australia against Scotland could lead to their skipper Mitchell Marsh getting banned for two games in the next round.

Josh Hazlewood’s joke has been taken a little bit out of context: Pat Cummins

Cummins has now come out and defended his fellow seamer, saying that Hazlewood’s comments have been “taken a little bit out of context” and that the players not giving their best for their team would be against the Spirit of Cricket.

Cummins said, “I think when you go out and play you are trying your best every time and if you are not, that’s probably against the spirit of cricket. Haven’t really thought too deeply because it’s never really popped up.

“I was speaking to Joshy, who had a bit of a joke about it the other day, and think it got taken a little bit out of context. We’ll go there and just try and play Scotland who have had a really good tournament so far and will be tough. It’s [net run rate] something you kind of discuss as one of the quirks of the set-up but in terms of does it change the way we play, absolutely not.

“I’ve never stepped into the field without the mindset of trying to take the game on and be aggressive, like the guys have so far,” he added.

The margin of result in the AUS vs SCO match would not matter now after England’s thumping victory over Oman. England hammered Oman in only 99 balls and boosted their NRR to +3.081, which is much better than Scotland’s NRR of +2.164. For England to qualify to the Super 8, they need to beat Namibia and hope Australia beat Scotland.

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