Cricket Australia won’t push for World Cup washout rethink

Cricket will have a chance to fix the anomaly that ruined England’s hope in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Indian fans celebrate in the rain as the T20 World Cup semi-final between England and India is washed out at the SCG on Thursday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Cricket will have a chance to fix the anomaly that ruined England’s hopes in the Women’s T20 World Cup and came within minutes of doing the same to Australia, but there is little will to pursue the change at Cricket Australia.

There was frustration and outrage when it was realised both games could be washed out and there was no reserve day set aside for the sides who made the semi-finals.

It cost England, whose match against India was abandoned, but the rain cleared long enough for Australia to win a reduced-over game.

The International Cricket Council said it was up to its members to raise the issue at the next chief executive’s meeting in March.

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A spokesperson for Cricket Australia said they backed the idea of introducing reserve days but respected the regulations in place for this event and the men’s World Cup which will be held in Australia in October.

Chief executive Kevin Roberts admitted earlier in the week that it was an oversight in the playing conditions which all boards had agreed to, but indicated on Friday that it wasn’t fair to adjust them for the men after the women had to endure the gaffe.

He clarified earlier statements on the issue, saying he had raised the issue with the ICC but had not pushed them to change.

“We’ve asked the question and it’s not part of the playing conditions, and we respect that,” Roberts said on SEN earlier in the week.

“It gives you cause to reflect and think about how you might improve things in the future.’’

The absence of a reserve day was widely criticised.

“ICC not scheduling reserve days for finals in the biggest tournament of the year and possibly lifetime for many players. Absolutely absurd,” Mark Waugh said.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was scathing in his column for the Telegraph.

“The International Cricket Council has blundered and shunned common sense, leaving the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup looking like a shambles,” he wrote.