Matthew Mott, the head coach of England’s cricket team, emphasised the need for his players to remain focused on their upcoming matches and block out external distractions as they vie for crucial points in the T20 World Cup. He addressed recent comments from Australian cricketer Josh Hazlewood, who suggested that Australia might consider manipulating the game to disadvantage England. Mott hoped Hazlewood was merely jesting, noting that his team’s primary objective is to secure a win against Oman on Thursday and hope that the run-rate calculations will ultimately benefit them.
Last week, England fell short against Australia in Barbados and faced a washed-out game against Scotland, who have since won both their matches. This situation has left England’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread in Group B, reminiscent of their premature exit from the 50-over World Cup in India before Christmas.
Despite the possibility of England winning their next two matches against Oman and Namibia, their substantial Net Run Rate (NRR) deficit to Scotland remains a significant hurdle. Hazlewood’s suggestion that Australia might deliberately slow their pace against Scotland in their upcoming match in Antigua has raised concerns. Such a strategy would mirror Steve Waugh’s controversial slow play against the West Indies in the 1999 World Cup, which targeted New Zealand for elimination. However, this tactic carries the risk of a two-match suspension for Australia’s captain, Mitchell Marsh, under ICC regulations against “inappropriate strategic or tactical” conduct.
Mott, familiar with Hazlewood from his coaching days at New South Wales, downplayed the seriousness of Hazlewood’s remarks, attributing them to his sense of humour. He expressed confidence in Australia’s competitive spirit and their desire to win every game.
Regardless of these speculations, Mott stressed that England needs to concentrate on their game rather than be distracted by potential run-rate disputes. He noted that England’s performance has lacked fluency so far in the tournament. Even before their match against Scotland was called off, their bowling was subpar, allowing 90 runs without taking a wicket in just ten overs. The pressure on England, as the defending champions, to deliver has intensified, especially in light of their disappointing 50-over World Cup defence last year.
Mott acknowledged the noise surrounding qualification and run-rates but reiterated that England’s focus must be on winning their next game. He expressed confidence in the team’s T20 capabilities and structure, despite their recent setback against Australia. Observers of their recent training session noted a positive and motivated team, ready to face the upcoming challenges.
To overcome any run-rate controversies, England needs to beat Oman and Namibia by a combined margin of 117 runs or equivalent while chasing, to elevate their NRR above Scotland’s. This would ensure their progression, barring a surprising defeat of Australia by Scotland. However, England's immediate task is to secure a win against Oman, a team that Scotland defeated comfortably in Antigua on Sunday.
Mott stated that England is treating the game against Oman independently, focusing entirely on it. He mentioned that if England finds themselves in a dominant position, they will push hard to capitalise on it. Conversely, if the match requires a fight to secure the two points, they will adapt accordingly.
He underscored the importance of playing their brand of cricket and achieving a complete performance to boost their on-field confidence. Despite the disjointed nature of the tournament so far, Mott believes the team is close to finding their stride.