T20 World Cup: England coach Matthew Mott hopes Josh Hazlewood comments were a joke

Manipulating scenarios in such a manner is a breach of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct, rather than an offence against the sport’s anti-corruption code.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh could be banned for up to two matches and face a fine if his side were found guilty – something that would be determined by the match referee.

Australia secured their progression by chasing 73 in just 5.4 overs to beat Namibia in Antigua on Tuesday. Were they faced with a similar situation against Scotland, completing the chase slower would benefit Scotland’s net run-rate.

Asked if it was in Australia’s “interest” to make it as difficult as possible for England to progress, Hazlewood said: “Yeah, I think so.

“In this tournament you potentially come up against England at some stage again and we’ve had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket so if we can get them out of the tournament that’s in our best interest as well as probably everyone else.

“Whether you get close and you just knock it around and drag it out, there’s a few options there.”

He later went on to say taking confidence from a win would be “more important than trying to knock someone else out”.

“Knowing Josh, he has got a pretty dry sense of humour,” said Mott, who added he would not use such tactics in a reverse scenario.

“I am hoping it was very much tongue in cheek.”