Cricket

Ahead of Australia's Super Eights clash against Bangladesh in the 2024 T20 World Cup, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has revealed the chaos that ensued in the England dressing room as their qualification hung in the balance.England's fate rested on Australia's victory over Scotland, and as the match reached its climax, panic set in among the English players. Maxwell disclosed that some players were frantically booking and canceling flights as the outcome remained uncertain."There was almost this interesting part where they dropped Tim David's catch when there were three runs required off three balls," Maxwell said. "When it gets down to the last two-three balls, who knows what is going to happen? Luckily enough, we got over the line and luckily enough, they got through. But I heard it was absolutely chaos."Maxwell also received messages from England players before the game, expressing their anxiety. "Yeah, just a couple of texts here and there (from England players)," he said. "It was actually quite funny. There was a lot of chat out in the ground like 'Are we doing this? Are we seriously going to let England back in?' It was a pretty interesting game."Prior to the match, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had stated that it would be in everyone's best interests if England were eliminated early. "In this tournament, you potentially come up against England at some stage again and...they are probably one of the top few teams on their day and we have had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket, so if we can get them out of the tournament that's in our best interest as well as probably everyone else," Hazlewood had said.Australia's victory over Scotland secured England's qualification for the Super Eights on the basis of net run rate. The defending champions will begin their Super Eights campaign against West Indies on Thursday.

Mitchell Marsh has declared himself fit to bowl in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, providing Australia with an additional option ahead of their clash with Bangladesh in Antigua. The all-rounder has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since leaving the IPL, but has recovered sufficiently to be available for selection.Marsh's return to bowling will bolster Australia's bowling attack, which has been led by Marcus Stoinis in his absence. The team has also utilized 12 overs of spin against Scotland, indicating a potential shift in strategy for the Super Eight."I'll be available to bowl," Marsh said. "With the line-up that we've got, I don't really necessarily see a need for me to bowl, but I think it's really important in this format to have options and we're blessed with plenty of those."While Marsh's bowling role remains uncertain, he is confident in his ability to contribute with the bat. Despite a slow start to the World Cup, Marsh and Glenn Maxwell believe they are close to making a significant impact."For me and Mitch, we got a lot of confidence out of that England game for the role we played," Maxwell said. "Even though it's a small sample size we still feel like we played out role; we set the innings up for the lower order to then go nuts."Maxwell acknowledged his own struggles with form, but expressed optimism about his chances of regaining his rhythm. "I've been hitting the ball pretty well, but...it's just been really hard to, I suppose, get that rhythm and momentum," he said.Australia will face Bangladesh in Antigua on October 29th, with the Super Eight stage of the tournament set to begin on November 1st. The team will be hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals and continue their quest for a second T20 World Cup title.

As the T20 World Cup 2024 shifts to the West Indies, the focus is expected to shift from fast bowlers to spinners. Recognizing this, Australian all-rounder Tim David has been honing his legspin skills to provide his team with an additional option.David, known for his explosive batting, has been practicing legspin for the past nine months. He believes it gives Australia more flexibility in match-ups. "It just gives you options as a match-up," David said. "I started bowling legspin in nets about nine months ago, and they came out really well."Australia's frontline spinners, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa, have been mentoring David in his bowling development. "It's been really good to bowl with Ash, [and] bowl with Zamps when they're around in the nets, [and] rub ideas off them," David said.Australia's Super Eight group includes Bangladesh, India, and Afghanistan, all teams known for their spin prowess. Bangladesh's legspinner Rishad Hossain is a particular concern for Australia, as they have limited experience facing him. However, David is confident in his team's ability to handle the spin challenge."I suppose that's the nature of the World Cup, isn't it? You play every team once," David said. "We're going to take him on."David has been preparing for the spin challenge by batting against spinners in the nets. However, he believes it's crucial to avoid overthinking close to the game. "Day before a game or couple of days before game [though], it's not that big of a stress," he said. "You know you can't change too much in that last stage."Another factor David will consider during the game is the wind direction. "The wind's really important," David said. "You hit the ball into the wind, [and] it goes 50 metres shorter; you get one downwind, [and] you can't stop it."David's versatility and willingness to embrace new challenges make him a valuable asset to the Australian team. As the tournament progresses, his legspin skills could prove to be a game-changer for Australia.

Travis Head's measured approach in the powerplay against Scotland showcased his adaptability and the depth of Australia's batting lineup. Despite a slower start, Head's strike rate remained impressive, reaching 120 after the fielding restrictions.Head's innings took a decisive turn after reaching a 45-ball fifty, unleashing a barrage of sixes against Safyaan Sharif. This surge ensured Australia's victory and highlighted Head's ability to adjust his game plan."There's going to be times when it's going to be done different ways," Head said. "I feel like I can do that and tonight I showed that."Australia's confidence in their ability to shift gears during an innings is bolstered by the power-hitting prowess of Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Matthew Wade. Glenn Maxwell's return to form would further enhance this versatility.Head emphasized the importance of timing their acceleration, as demonstrated against Scotland. "You're going through the gears and working out where you can do it," he said. "We got to a stage where it was time to go, and we'd kept the powder dry, and we were able to accelerate through the back-end."Australia's upcoming Super Eight matches will test their adaptability in different conditions. The selection of Ashton Agar against Scotland suggests his potential role in spin-friendly environments.Head's measured approach and Australia's overall batting depth provide a formidable challenge for their opponents in the T20 World Cup.

The 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 stage is set to commence on June 19, with seven of the eight participating teams confirmed. India, the reigning champions, will face off against Australia in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 World Cup Final on June 24.India secured their Super 8 berth by topping Group A, winning three games and having their final fixture washed out. Bangladesh is poised to become the eighth team, with the Netherlands holding an outside chance.The Super 8s will witness India's relocation from the USA to the West Indies. All three of India's Super 8 matches will be played in the Caribbean. Their opening match will be against Afghanistan on June 20.Super 8 Format:The Super 8 groups were predetermined based on a seeding format for the top eight teams in the rankings. However, due to the elimination of Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, their spots will be filled by USA (A2), Afghanistan (C1), and Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2).The seeding format aims to provide fans with a clearer understanding of potential match locations in the tournament's later stages. The top two teams from each Super 8 group will advance to the semi-finals.Super 8 Groups:* Group 1: India (A1), Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1), Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2)* Group 2: USA (A2), England (B1), West Indies (C2), South Africa (D1)India's Schedule:* June 20: vs Afghanistan, Kensington Oval, Barbados [8:00 PM IST]* June 22: vs Bangladesh/Netherlands, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua [8:00 PM IST]* June 24: vs Australia, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St. Lucia [8:00 PM IST]

Australia's victory over Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked controversy after comments made by Josh Hazlewood suggesting that Australia would benefit from eliminating England from the tournament. However, Mitchell Starc has dismissed these claims as "blown out of proportion" by the media.Hazlewood's initial remarks, made earlier in the week, hinted at a scenario where Australia could "drag out" their match against Scotland to potentially hinder England's progress. The Australian camp has since downplayed the comments, emphasizing that Hazlewood was joking and his words were taken out of context.Despite having nothing to play for in the match against Scotland, Australia's performance was far from their best. They dropped six catches and struggled in the chase, raising questions about their approach. However, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David eventually guided Australia to victory with two balls to spare.Mitchell Marsh, Australia's captain, dismissed any suggestion that England's fate had been a topic of discussion within the team. "I think more externally than internally," he said.Starc, who was critical of the tournament's pre-seeding structure, also defended Hazlewood's comments. "I think a throwaway line has been blown right out of proportion by you lot," he said, referring to the media. "We're here to win games. It's international cricket."Brandon McMullen, Scotland's top scorer, expressed confidence in Australia's intentions. "They're always going to put up a good fight," he said.Despite the controversy, Australia's victory ensures England's progress to the Super Eight. However, the tournament's structure has come under scrutiny, with Starc questioning the fairness of pre-seeding and the potential for information asymmetry.

Australia's Mitchell Marsh: Super Eights to Test Team Against World's BestAustralian captain Mitchell Marsh expressed his team's eagerness to face the world's top teams in the Super Eights of the ICC T20 World Cup. After their dominant five-wicket victory over Scotland, Marsh emphasized the importance of playing in a challenging environment to bring out the best in his squad."We spoke about sticking to our game and staying consistent in how we wanted to play," Marsh said after the match. "Having already qualified, there was less pressure on us, but whenever our team is challenged, it brings the best out of us."Marsh praised Scotland's progress, acknowledging their highest-ever finish in an ICC tournament. "Scotland are a good team, they have improved a lot, and we certainly wanted to respect them," he said.The Australian skipper also acknowledged the hectic schedule ahead in the Super Eights. "It's going to be a busy schedule. T20 is a hard format, but we are excited for what is to come," Marsh said.Australia's victory secured their top spot in Group B with eight points from four wins. Scotland finished third with five points, but failed to advance to the Super Eights. England also qualified, sharing the same points and win-loss record as Scotland but with a superior net run rate.

Australia emerged victorious over Scotland in a thrilling Group B encounter of the T20 World Cup in St Lucia, securing a five-wicket triumph. The victory propelled Australia into the Super Eight stage of the tournament, while Scotland's defeat paved the way for England's qualification as the second team from the group.Chasing a challenging target of 181, Australia faced early setbacks but found their footing through the heroics of Travis Head and Marcus Stoinis. Head played a pivotal role, scoring a crucial 68 runs, while Stoinis contributed a valuable 59. Their partnership laid the foundation for Australia's recovery, and the finishing touches were applied by Matthew Wade (4*) and Tim David (24*). Australia reached the winning total of 186/5 in 19.4 overs.Earlier, Scotland had set a competitive target, thanks to a blistering knock from Brandon McMullen. McMullen's 60 runs off just 34 deliveries, including six towering sixes and two boundaries, provided the impetus for Scotland's innings. He forged a formidable 89-run partnership with George Munsey (35).Scotland captain Richie Berrington also played a significant role, contributing an unbeaten 42 runs. His crucial innings and partnerships in the latter stages of the innings helped Scotland post a respectable total of 180 for five.Australia's victory was a testament to their resilience and the match-winning performances of Head and Stoinis. Scotland, despite their valiant effort, fell short of securing a berth in the Super Eight stage.

Jos Buttler, England's captain, has expressed his support for Australia in their upcoming match against Scotland, as England's T20 World Cup hopes hang in the balance.England's victory over Namibia in Antigua was crucial for their qualification to the Super Eight, but the match was marred by a three-hour rain delay that threatened to wash out the fixture. Despite the challenging conditions, England managed to secure a 41-run win, with Harry Brook's unbeaten 47 leading the way.Buttler admitted that the rain delay had been stressful, but praised his team's performance under pressure. "We put in a really good performance," he said. "I thought everyone managed that situation well. We were well prepared when we did play, and we played well."England's victory may not be enough to secure their place in the Super Eight, as Scotland could still qualify if they defeat Australia in their final Group B match. Buttler acknowledged this possibility, saying, "We've done all we can do. We'll see what happens."Despite the uncertainty surrounding their qualification, Buttler remains optimistic about England's chances in the tournament. "We've dealt with everything that's been thrown at us really well," he said. "We've got a lot of talent in this team, and we're confident that we can go all the way."