AUS vs SCO: Mitchell Starc slams media for blowing Hazlewood comments ‘out of proportion’

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has slammed the media for blowing Josh Hazlewood’s England comment out of proportion as he felt it was just a throwaway line from the pacer. Hazlewood said after the Namibia game that it would be in Australia’s ‘best interest’ to ensure England don’t qualify for the Super 8 stages. This would mean that the Aussies had to lose their final group game to Scotland.

The Australian camp have since played down the comments and said that it was nothing serious. Australia would end up beating Scotland by 5 wickets and eliminating them and help England qualify for the Super 8 stages. Speaking at the post match press conference, Starc criticised the media, saying they’re here to win games and England aren’t in their group for the Super 8s.

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“I think a throwaway line has been blown right out of proportion by you lot,” he said, referring to the media attending his post-match press conference.

“You don’t stuff around with mother cricket and trying to worry about other results. We’re here to win games. It’s international cricket. England now are on the other side of the draw, so it really doesn’t make that much difference for the next three games. So yeah, I think that was blown right out of proportion by you guys.”

How is Starc’s niggle?

Starc came into the game as Australia decided to give him a rest for the Namibia game. The pacer did get a niggle during the Oman game and according to him, it stuck around for the England clash as well. Starc revealed that he had a scan was given the all clear to resume playing.

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The pacer also said it was better to get a rest now rather than at the business end of the competition.

“I had that cramp in the Oman game and it sort of hung around through the England game and so I had a scan, it was all clear and gave it the extra few days with the Namibia game and yeah back in today it was all good to go. So, I was better off doing the first half of the tournament than when it gets busy in the second half,” said Starc.

Australia will start their Super 8 stage on June 21.