Key Australian players resting versus Scotland could impact England’s T20 World Cup fate

Australia might bench key players in their last T20 World Cup 2024 group match against Scotland, potentially affecting England’s chances.

After playing Oman on Tuesday, a win could secure Australia a spot in the last eight, allowing them to rest key players in their last group match against Scotland. Scotland is currently top of the table with five points after three matches.

Coach Andrew McDonald emphasized the focus is on beating Oman first.

 “We need a win to guarantee a way through. After that, once we’ve firmed up qualification, we can then look at that potential [of resting players],” McDonald said.

England’s situation is precarious after a washout against Scotland and a loss to Australia.

“We’re not really focused on England and where they are at,” McDonald added. “England have their own challenges in their upcoming games. We faced a similar situation in the last World Cup where net run rate became crucial, and it’s always tough when relying on other results. But that’s for them to navigate.”

For England to qualify for the Super 8 stage, they must win their remaining matches against Namibia and Oman and hope for favorable outcomes in other games. If England secures victories in both matches and Scotland loses to Australia, both teams would end up with five points each, making Net Run Rate (NRR) the deciding factor.

England needs not only to win their remaining games but also to do so by substantial margins to boost their NRR. Currently, Scotland has a strong NRR of 2.164, which puts pressure on England to achieve significant wins. If both teams end up with five points, the team with the higher NRR will advance to the Super 8 stage.