'I think the game against England is important' - Aaron Jones stresses USA's determination to win every match

In a rollercoaster journey through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Team USA find themselves at a critical juncture after a tough defeat against the West Indies. Despite dazzling victories over Pakistan and Canada to advance comfortably into the Super Eights, the North American side faces an uphill battle to stay alive in the tournament.

With South Africa leading Group Two, securing wins against England and USA, and England and West Indies closely trailing, Team USA currently languish at the bottom without any points to their name. The upcoming clash against England on June 23 in Barbados now looms as a make-or-break moment for the underdog squad.

Stand-in captain Aaron Jones remains undaunted by the challenge, emphasizing the team’s unwavering commitment to triumph in every match.

“I think the game against England is important. For me personally, every time I put on a US jersey, I want to win the game, regardless of who we're playing against," he said as quoted by ICC.

Reflecting on their tournament journey, Jones stressed its broader significance for associate cricket, especially in the United States.

“I think over the last couple of weeks, starting from winning the series against Bangladesh, it really and truly opened the eyes of everybody in the world, not only for US cricket but associate cricket in general. And then obviously moving on to beating Pakistan in the World Cup, and then having a close game against India and then a close game against South Africa. People know that associate cricket is on the rise I would say," he added.

I don't think (there) is any pressure: Jones

Despite the slim chances of advancing to the next round, Jones remains optimistic and focused on securing a victory against England.

“I don't think (there) is any pressure. I think when we first started the World Cup a lot of people didn't think that we would be here right now. Obviously, we always believed, even before the World Cup started, that we could beat any team in the world. And as I say, every time you put on your jersey and you go and play for your country, you want to win,” stated Jones with optimism.

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“So definitely we want to win the game against England and finish well, although we can't advance in the next round for sure. For me personally, I will go into the game just looking to win the game and doing as best as possible as a team and me personally as well. And then let's see what happens after that," he added.

As the tournament unfolds, the eyes of cricket enthusiasts worldwide remain fixed on the progress of Team USA, whose spirited journey continues to captivate audiences and inspire new heights for associate cricket on the global stage.