I hope Hazlewood was joking - England coach Mott

England coach Matthew Mott said he hopes Josh Hazlewood’s comments astir perchance manipulating nett run-rate successful their lucifer against Scotland to thief sound England retired of nan T20 World Cup were “tongue successful cheek”.

England, who play Oman successful Antigua connected Thursday, request to triumph some of their remaining games by large margins to decorativeness level connected points pinch Scotland and person a dream of overhauling their nett run-rate.

Scotland meet Australia connected Saturday, aft England’s last match, and Hazlewood discussed nan anticipation of his broadside playing successful a measurement to assistance nan Scots’ nett run-rate arsenic it would beryllium successful their “best interests” for England to spell out.

“Having grown up successful Australia and nan will to triumph each game, I americium judge they will travel to nan fore,” Australian Mott told BBC Sport.

“I americium very overmuch hoping it was an off-hand remark by a really bully bloke who is having fun.”

Manipulating scenarios successful specified a mode is simply a breach of nan International Cricket Council’s codification of conduct, alternatively than an offence against nan sport’s anti-corruption code.

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh could beryllium banned for up to 2 matches and look a good if his broadside were recovered blameworthy – thing that would beryllium wished by nan lucifer referee.

Australia secured their progression by chasing 73 successful conscionable 5.4 overs to beat Namibia successful Antigua connected Tuesday. Were they faced pinch a akin business against Scotland, completing nan pursuit slower would use Scotland’s nett run-rate.

Asked if it was successful Australia’s “interest” to make it arsenic difficult arsenic imaginable for England to progress, Hazlewood said: “Yeah, I deliberation so.

“In this tourney you perchance travel up against England astatine immoderate shape again and we've had immoderate existent struggles against them successful T20 cricket truthful if we tin get them retired of nan tourney that's successful our champion liking arsenic good arsenic astir apt everyone else.

“Whether you get adjacent and you conscionable sound it astir and resistance it out, there's a fewer options there.”

He later went connected to opportunity taking assurance from a triumph would beryllium “more important than trying to sound personification other out”.

“Knowing Josh, he has sewage a beautiful barren consciousness of humour,” said Mott, who added he would not usage specified strategies successful a reverse scenario.

“I americium hoping it was very overmuch lingua successful cheek.”

If England amended their ain nett run-rate beyond Scotland’s successful their 2 matches against Oman and Namibia past nan only measurement Scotland could advancement would beryllium to hit Australia, aliases successful nan arena of a washout.

Scotland presently clasp a hefty advantage – their complaint is 2.164 while England are presently connected -1.800 – meaning England request 2 ample wins.

There are galore permutations astatine this shape but were Scotland to suffer to Australia successful a ace complete – frankincense not taking a nett run-rate deed from nan crippled – England would person to triumph by a mixed 117 runs crossed nan 2 matches.

Captain Jos Buttler said his side, who were heavy beaten by Australia connected Saturday, must not get “consumed” by nan permutations.

Oman are presently bottommost of nan Group B array pinch 3 defeats and are retired of contention of finishing successful nan apical two.

“Jos said really good astir needing to gain nan correct to push difficult successful this game," said Mott.

“That's what teams do - a nice, cool calculated response."

England person a fully-fit squad to take from, pinch nan action to bring successful Reece Topley again their astir apt change.

Oman’s apical bid struggled against left-arm gait bowlers Ruben Trumpelmann and Mitchell Starc successful their erstwhile matches.