ANTIGUA — After finally getting their T20 World Cup campaign up and running with the annihilation of Oman on Thursday, England are eyeing up a second chance to restate their status as defending champions.

Victory against Namibia back at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday should be enough to get them into the Super Eight stage of the tournament, although they will still need Australia to do them a favour by beating Scotland in the final Group B match in St Lucia later in the day.

Josh Hazlewood’s comments about the Aussies going easy on Scotland to help try and eliminate England stirred the pot.

But now that net run rate has been taken out of the equation thanks to the dominance of that win against Oman, the only result that will eliminate England is an Australian defeat to Scotland.

Given the volatile nature of T20 cricket, that cannot be ruled out, especially if Australia, who have already qualified, rest players.

But the likelihood of them even subconsciously taking things easy against the Scots seems remote.

Asked whether he thought their Ashes rivals would give 100 per cent, Mark Wood said: “Yes, I think so. I’m absolutely confident they’ll play the game their hardest. That’s the Australian way, they’ll play hard and fair and try to get the win.”

Hazlewood’s comments, revelling in England’s misery after the opening washout against Scotland and hammering by Australia put their tournament on the brink, might have been interpreted by some as mocking.

“That’s part of England vs Australia isn’t it?” said Wood. “I think I saw it more as a respect thing if I’m honest. He was saying England have done well against Australia in the recent past and he thinks we’re a big threat. I had no problem with it.”

If Jos Buttler’s men do progress, it will allow them to put two weeks of chaos behind them, where chats about run rates and Aussie subterfuge stirred up memories of their 50-over World Cup calamity in India last year.

Wins against associate nations in Oman, who England bowled out for 47, and Namibia will only go so far, however dominant the margin.

The real test will be when this team are put under real pressure again against Super Eight opponents the West Indies, South Africa and the USA.

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“We can’t look past the fact that we needed to play better cricket,” said Wood. “We trained well this week and there was good intensity in practice. Our backs were against the wall, there were obviously a few negatives flying around and questions being asked and I’m really pleased for the bowling unit we came out and put on a performance.

“Namibia, who’s to say they won’t turn it on and all of a sudden it’s back to down in the dumps and it’s all doom and gloom again? So we’ve got to perform well and I think this performance certainly says that, but we don’t want it to be a one off. Now we know the equation in front of us and hopefully we can get the win next game.”

Wood admitted to doubts after his first over against Australia went for 22 runs. “Every game for England you have doubts,” he said. “You’re out there in front of the cameras. There are millions of people watching. The media. Opposition. It’s all judgement. It’s just the way it is.”

He should retain his place in an unchanged team against Namibia but the balance is likely to change come the Super Eights, with the fast bowler vulnerable as England are likely to want to recall Chris Jordan for his death bowling prowess.

But first England need to get there.