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Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood expresses bewilderment over the insignificance of their strong net run-rate despite three convincing victories in the T20 World Cup’s Super 8 stage.
The tournament, featuring 20 teams, is organized into four groups of five, advancing two teams from each to the Super 8 phase. Subsequently, two groups of four will determine the semifinalists.
This differs from the prior format, where the top teams started in the Super 12 stage with two groups of six, sending the top two from each group to the semifinals.
Australia secured a Super 8 spot after thrashing Namibia by nine wickets, elevating their run rate to +3.580.
“Yeah, it’s a little bit strange that it doesn’t really, it doesn’t go through the tournament. This is probably the first T20 World Cup I’ve played that’s set up this way, or first World Cup in general that’s set up this way, so it’s a little bit different,” said Hazlewood in the post-match media interaction.
“Yeah, the work that you do in the round games and if you go through undefeated and have a good net run rate, doesn’t really account for much once you’re in the Super Eights. So, yeah, it’s a strange run, but that’s how it is,” added the premier pacer.
In Tuesday’s victory, he shone brightly alongside spinner Adam Zampa, who clinched four wickets, bringing his total for the tournament to eight.
When questioned about Zampa’s status as one of Australia’s underrated cricketers, Hazlewood lavished well-deserved accolades on the leg-spinner.
“Yeah, we certainly do within the team, for sure. We know his importance. We’ve seen it time and time again whether it be one-day cricket or T20 cricket, often in big tournaments and in big games as well.
“100 T20 wickets, first one there, played the most T20 for Australia as a bowler. So, he’s ticking a lot of boxes and continues to. I think the big thing is he continues to improve all the time. He’s always working on something and nailing down his lengths or whatever it is so yeah – he’s a key part of our team,” Hazlewood added.
