So how will Australia play this? Josh Hazlewood caused a stir when he said that Australia are going to work in their “best interest” and if it means playing in a way that knocks out England on Net Run Rate, then so be it. But unfortunately, “knocking it around” and “dragging out” the game are off the table with England’s record win over Oman. Scotland now need an outright win against Australia, which sounds difficult but isn’t altogether unlikely given how this World Cup has panned out so far.
For starters, there’s a lot unknown going into this game. This will be the first T20I match between the two sides and Michael Leask has already alluded to not having ever played Australia in this format and how “they don’t know what we’re capable of”.
For the last time these two sides faced off, you’d have to go as far back as the ODI World Cup in 2015. Scotland have come a long way since then, as evidenced in the way they bossed the European qualifiers and by how they have fared in this World Cup so far, beating Namibia for the first time in T20Is before dismantling Oman. But Australia, the current holders of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup, would challenge them on a completely different level and how they respond in a must-win situation will be something to look out for.
For Australia, very little rides on this match. Their pre-tournament seeding has already decided their fixtures in the Super 8s, so all they would want from this fixture are things in their “best interest”. Whether it means some game-time for their bench players or a first-round exit for England is anybody’s guess.
When: Australia vs Scotland on 15 June, 2024 at 8:30 pm local
Where: Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
What to expect: This will be the first match hosted by the venue during this World Cup. Since April 2021, the sides batting first in night games here have averaged 171 and won 7 of 12 matches. The weather is set to be fair.
Team watch
AUSTRALIA:The Mitchell Marsh-led side can rest Marcus Stoinis before the all-important Super 8s. Nathan Ellis is likely to continue to fill in for Starc.
Tactics & Matchups: Adam Zampa is going to be a key bowler for Australia. Both Brandon McMullen and Richie Berrington have been dismissed thrice against legspin since 2022.
Probable XI: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
SCOTLAND:Saafyan Sharif replaced Brad Currie in the match against Oman and picked up two wickets. But Currie is said to have recovered from his niggle and could slot right back in.
Tactics & Matchups: Mark Watt’s left-arm orthodox against Travis Head will make for an intriguing watch. Head, since 2022, averages a shade over 13 against the bowling type. Tim David and Josh Inglis in the middle-order don’t have very flattering numbers either.
Probable XI: George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Christopher Sole, Brad Currie/Safyaan Sharif, Brad Wheal
Did you know?
– Australia have a mixed record in St Lucia. They won three out of three in the T20 World Cup in 2010, including the semifinal vs Pakistan, but then lost 1-4 in a five-match series in 2021.
– Mitchell Marsh has 3 fifties at the venue
What they said:
I have seen that on a few Instagram reels actually. It’s clever bowling. A lot of players are looking to get a little bit of an advantage and to sneak up and bowl a ball from near behind the umpires. Clever. I’ve just got to make sure I don’t pull away when he does it this time – Matthew Wade on Mark Watt’s “long ball” delivered from 25 yards
We haven’t played Australia in a T20 international for quite a long time, if ever, not in my recollection. So, it does kind of hold us in a little bit of good stead as well because they don’t know what we’re capable of, given the fact that we’re playing really good cricket at the moment – Michael Leask
