Why former Test captain Tim Paine believes Australia should allow Scotland to ‘get close enough’ if it helps eliminate bitter rivals England from the T20 World Cup

Former Test captain Tim Paine is convinced Australia must let Scotland ‘get close enough’ in their final pool match at the T20 World Cup to keep defending champions England out of the next stage of the tournament.

It comes after an outcry over possible manipulation of the rules.

After topping Namibia by nine wickets on Wednesday to secure passage to the Super 8s, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said it would be in his team’s “best interests” to see England eliminated, which could happen if the Scots would end the group stage with a better score. net run rate.

A manic schedule in the World Cup finals, which could see Australia win five games in eight days to lift the trophy, has led to plans to field players for the match against Scotland.

Paine said the focus on winning the tournament should determine what the Australians do in the final match and if an opportunity arose to eliminate England, a serious rival, he was “all for it”.

Former Test captain Tim Paine is convinced Australia must let Scotland ‘come close enough’ in their final pool match at the T20 World Cup to keep defending champions England out of the next stage of the tournament

Australia have started the T20 World Cup in ominous fashion and will have to stop for a while (photo, captain Mitch Marsh)

“Absolutely, and I’m not even kidding,” Paine continued SEN radio.

‘I’m dead serious. You don’t have to lose the match, just let Scotland get close enough.

‘And that’s not just because it’s England. I think you have to go into these tournaments and try to win a World Cup, and who could definitely be a threat in the final rounds? England.

‘There is no doubt that they are still one of the best teams in the world. They got off to a terrible start and now it’s in our hands.

“So if you can take out one of the most fancied teams in the tournament and do it in a way that’s not too bad, otherwise you’re not going to lose a game, then I’m all for it.”

England coach Matthew Mott, an Australian, said he hoped Hazlewood’s comments were “obvious” and not indicative of a plan to play Scotland with anything but a 100 percent intention to win at all costs .

“Having grown up in Australia and having the will to win every game, I’m sure they will come to the fore,” Mott told BBC Sport.

“I really hope it was a casual comment from a really good guy having fun.”

While resting players remains an option available to Australia, Marsh could also come under scrutiny as captain under the Game’s Code of Conduct if the match referee were to determine that there was a deliberate attempt to reduce net run rates to manipulate.

Australia play Scotland in St Lucia on Sunday after England play their final match against Namibia, leaving their fate in the hands of others.