Pat Cummins insists Josh Hazlewood was only joking when he said Australia could consider underperforming in their next World Cup match to increase the chance of England being eliminated from the tournament early.
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Cummins was also adamant Australia will observe "the spirit of cricket" and play at full tilt when they meet Scotland in St Lucia on Sunday (AEST).
After a wash-out and a loss to Australia to begin the group stage, reigning-champions England need to beat Namibia on Sunday morning (AEST), then rely on Scotland losing to Australia to make the Super 8 stage.
Even then, net run-rate will determine which of the British nations joins Australia in clinching one of two qualifying spots from Group B.
Win easily and Australia will assure Scotland can't progress, especially since England's comfortable win over Oman on Friday (AEST) has boosted their net run-rate.
But Australia losing to Scotland would send England packing, a point made clear by Hazlewood in the media earlier this week.
Test captain Cummins, however, has since insisted Australia would not try to influence its oldest rival's fate.
"I was speaking to Joshy, he had a bit of a joke about it the other day and I think it got taken a little bit out of context," Cummins said.
"We'll go out there and just try and play. Scotland have had a really good tournament so far so they're going to be tough."
England admonished Australia for failing to recognise the "spirit of cricket" during last year's Ashes series, most glaringly after Alex Carey's controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord's.
Cummins maintained such a dismissal was part of the game, and said there'd be no shenanigans this time around either.
"When you go out and play, you're trying your best every time. If you're not, it's probably against the spirit of cricket," he said.
With a spot in the group stage already sewn up, Australia has little riding on the match against Scotland, especially given points and net run-rate will not be carried into the next stage of the tournament.
The match could be a chance for big names to rest up for the Super 8 stage. Cummins predicted Australia's "big three" quicks - himself, Hazlewood and Mitch Starc - would play every game after Sunday.
"We're used to playing Test cricket so four overs is a breeze. There's no workload issues at all," he said.
All-rounder Cameron Green and spinner Ashton Agar, both yet to play this tournament, could be given opportunities against Scotland.
"Obviously you're trying to win every game but maybe it gives you a chance to manage a few other players in this game where run-rate is less important," Cummins said.
"I haven't spoken to the selectors or anyone so I don't know what they're thinking but I wouldn't be surprised (if Green or Agar played).
"I know going into the start of the tournament, in a perfect world, we'd get a game into just about all the squad members."
Australian Associated Press
