Women’s World T20: why did ICC ignore simple solution to problem of its own making?
The farcical scenes at the SCG on Thursday, with one World Cup semi-final abandoned and a second narrowly avoiding the same fate, should prompt a rethink for future editions. The players deserve better.
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Cricket has a unique way of being its own worst enemy at times. Things are never a problem … until they are.
The farcical scenes at the SCG on Thursday night where one women’s T20 semi-final was played, just, and the other wasn’t because of rain not only denied India and England the chance to showcase their skills to a global audience, but also showed up the senseless inflexibility of the ICC.
Watching four of the world’s best women’s teams should have been a six-hour extravaganza of what’s great about the sport, a showcase for the vibrancy of the game, and cause for great celebration.
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Yes, Australia won, but relief for the home fans (and organisers who have got lucky with a dream final), came via luck rather than judgment. India’s match against England was abandoned without a ball being bowled. No replay, no reduced slogathon, no nothing! That’s it! Finished.
Why wasn’t a reserve day of play inserted in the tournament rules?
The ICC explained it as because these T20 World Cups – both in the men’s and women’s tournaments – are “short, sharp events … allowing for any other reserve days (apart from the final) would have extended the length of the event, which isn’t feasible.
“There is a clear and fair alternative should there be no play in any of the semi-finals with the winner of the group progressing.”
But, surely there was room in the schedule without elongating the tournament.
Friday could have been a possibility with the final being played on Sunday. Sydney’s weather was clear. Maybe start a little earlier to beat any incoming thunderstorm. A bit of forethought wouldn’t have gone astray in that respect.
After the game, England captain Heather Knight said she would have been perfectly happy to forgo the two-day break, and play the rescheduled game on the Friday, and then travel on Saturday ready for Sunday’s final.
There is a reserve day for the March 8 final – and even Katy Perry (the headliner of the post-game concert) is booked for March 9 just in case.
To date, this has been a truly excellent World Cup, that is still gearing up to set a new world record for the largest crowd to attend a stand-alone women’s sporting event when the final is played at the MCG on Sunday.
We’ve been thrilled by the sixes hit by Aussie opener Beth Mooney. Been delighted by the exuberance of the Thailand team.
We collectively despaired as Australia’s Ellyse Perry was helped from Junction Oval having torn her hamstring. And were likewise saddened as West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor had to be stretchered off.
Everyone watched on in wonder of the spin of India’s Poonam Yadav even as she put Australia to the sword.
Even the most partisan of local supporters, programmed to take pleasure in English heartache, cheered on as Knight and Nat Sciver scored the highest partnership in T20 World Cup history, been
For the event to now fizzle out in this way is heartbreaking.
This has been the biggest tournament showcasing women’s sport that we’ve ever seen in this country but a cloud, both literally and metaphorically, has now been cast over it.
With record crowds from Perth to Canberra and a sellout at Melbourne’s Junction Oval for Australia’s win over the Kiwis on Monday, this tournament will see a lasting legacy for not only women cricketers, but all female athletes.
May its other legacy be that this is never allowed to happen again.