MELBOURNE
Two games on Friday were called off without a single ball being bowled at the Twenty20 World Cup, amidst heavy showers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
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.
Similarly, earlier in the day, Ireland versus Afghanistan contest was also called off.
As a result, England will likely have to win their last two games to progress although even that may not be enough.
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.
“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,” England captain Jos Buttler said.
“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].”
