T20
World Cup: England-Australia match washed out by rain in Melbourne
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ICC Men's T20 World Cup Group 1, Melbourne |
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Australia v England abandoned |
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Tables |
England's highly-anticipated Men's T20 World Cup match against
Australia in Melbourne was washed out without a ball being bowled leaving Group
1 wide open.
England will likely have to win their last two games to progress
although even that may not be enough.
They are currently second in the table, level on points with
leaders New Zealand and Ireland, whose game against Afghanistan was washed out earlier.
Australia also have three points but are in fourth on net
run-rate.
Afghanistan are bottom with two no-results and a defeat but
still have a slim hope of progressing.
England's chances were thrown into peril by their shock loss to
Ireland on Tuesday and would have been all-but out of the tournament had they
lost to Ashes rivals Australia, with a crowd of 60,000 expected for one of the
tournament's showpiece games.
The hosts would also have effectively been out had they lost.
But persistent afternoon rain left the outfield saturated and,
despite a two-hour period without rain, the match was called off to boos from
those inside the ground at 20:48 local time, with the playing surface deemed
unfit for play.
It was a disappointing scene but prevented the situation of one
of the two teams being knocked out of a World Cup in a manic five-over per side
shootout.
England captain Jos Buttler said: "The umpires had some big
concerns and rightly so because the outfield was very wet and there were some
areas in the 30-yard circle that were not fit to play.
"As much as we all want to play cricket it has to be safe and it certainly wasn't that."
What does this mean for
England's chances?
England next play New Zealand on Tuesday in Brisbane before
meeting Sri Lanka in Sydney on Saturday 5 November.
Their simplest route to a top-two finish would be to win both
games and hope Australia do not overhaul their sizeable net run-rate advantage
in games against Ireland and Afghanistan.
In England's favour is the fact their meeting with Sri Lanka is
the last in the group so, if they can overcome the Black Caps, Jos Buttler's
side will have a clear picture of the net run-rate requirements.
Ireland will still hope to qualify, although their remaining
games are difficult encounters against Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka meet on Saturday in Sydney. The winner
will take pole position at the top of the group.
"We are still in the competition and know, to a certain
degree, we have our destiny in our own hands," said Buttler.
"There is still lots of confidence in the group. We have
some great players who are determined to right some wrongs from the other night
[against Ireland]."
There have now been four matches in the tournament to finish
without a result because of the weather.
Melbourne has been dogged by the La Nina weather pattern, which
has caused serious flooding in parts of Victoria.
"The outfield has taken a drenching over the last couple of
weeks and that's the worst I've seen it in this stadium," said Australia
captain Aaron Finch.
"First and foremost we've got to try and win our remaining
games and have to earn the right to push for net run-rate."
