Australia regretting helping England qualify for Super 8s? Tim Paine leaks news from Aussie camp

Former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine opened up about Australia's preparation for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. He also opened up about Australia regretting England's qualification for the second leg of the tournament. 

Australia Cricket Team are right on the track in the T20 World Cup 2024. The Mitchell Marsh-led side played a sensational brand of cricket in the league stage, winning all the games and entering the Super 8 stage of the tournament in the Carribean unbeaten. 

Australia then started the Super 8 stage of the tournament on high as they thumped Bangladesh to make their case strong for the next stage. With the kind of cricket that they have played, they looked favourites for the title, that they won in 2021 in UAE. Australia have all the bases covered. All the players have stepped up at some stage and have helped the team win. 

Tim Paine said that Australia have been preparing pretty well for the spin as they know that the pitches during the Super 8 stage of the tournament will be offering spin. He revealed that even during the IPL, Australian players were preparing for the spin to be ready for the T20 World Cup 2024. Speaking on SEN, he explained: 

"I think all the teams we're going to come across in the Super 8 stage have good spin stock. So it's going to be a bit of a challenge for us but I heard Tim David speak yesterday and say they've been preparing for this not only since they've been in the West Indies but the individuals have been preparing for a lot of spin when they're in India for the IPL. 

"Even guys like a Matthew Wade who wasn't playing were given that sort of feedback that hey we're going to get smashed with spin at some stage in this tournament. We need to be ready. So all the guys have been working extremely hard. I am told about their play of spin. So expect us to combat it quite well but I  would suggest that's what we're going to see in these Super 8s. We've got Bangladesh, we've got  Afghanistan and we've got India. So I would expect that we are going to be facing up to 15 overs of spin per game potentially." 

I thought, missed opportunity - Tim Paine on Australia winning against Scotland to help England qualify 

England's qualification for the T20 World Cup was dependent on Australia. The Mitchell Marsh-led needed to defeat Scotland to make way for the defending champions in the Super 8. Ahead of the game, Josh Hazlewood said that Australia would do their best to block the way for England. 

But it wasn't the case as they defeated Scotland and made way for England, who since then has been in sensational form in the ongoing T20 World 2024. 

Tim Paine admitted that with the way England played against West Indies in Super 8, he thought Australia missed an opportunity to knock out the defending champions. He believes that the Jos Buttler-led side will be a threat for any team in the tournament and it won't be a surprise if they even win. He added: 

"I was sitting there watching yesterday and I thought, missed opportunity. Well had it has presented itself as we spoke about. But it did and they got through and they look really good and one of their players who hasn't been in great form played really well yesterday was Jonny Bairstow. So they're building momentum. They didn't start great, they had a washed-out game so they haven't played a lot of cricket but we've spoken a lot about the talent and the quality and the match winners they've got in that team. 

"Again I think some teams would be looking over their shoulder at the moment going god it's nice. It would be nice if they weren't there and I think sometimes even sort of subconsciously teams go oh they were that close to not being there and now they're there and they're a big threat and mentally that can have a little bit of an effect on you and the flip side of England they were that close to being eliminated not getting through so now the shackles are off. They've got nothing to lose and they're a high-quality team. I did think oh no. Imagine if they go and win it. They could. They could win it. They're a terrific side. They are a very very good side," he concluded.