World T20: No Perry, no reserve day, no second chance

Australia have no second chances, no Ellyse Perry and no reserve day if wet weather ruins the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Australian captain Meg Lanning in the Members Pavilion at the SCG

Sydney is having another crack at raining on cricket’s big-ticket events as Australia contemplates the prospect of taking on South Africa at the SCG in the T20 World Cup semi-final knowing there are no second chances, no Ellyse Perry and no reserve day if the predicted heavy weather causes play to be abandoned.

In the event of a washout, India will play South Africa in the final at the MCG on Sunday as both sides advanced through their respective group stages undefeated.

India play England in the first game of the double header at 3pm Thursday, followed by the Australia-South Africa game at 7pm which limits the available time to complete the first game should there be rain delays, but the second match can be pushed back and start as late as 8.49pm.

It is not the first time the emerald city’s grey skies have interfered with the cricket. It was a miracle last month’s Big Bash League final was held at all, the city enduring one of its heaviest sustained downpours in history leading into and on the day of the final. The match was watched by just 10,121 fans who turned up on the off chance what did happen would.

Days of rain ruined the fourth Test against India at the SCG in the 2018-19 summer.

Anxious that the weather might destroy the home team’s finals dreams, Cricket Australia asked the International Cricket Council if a reserve day could be organised, but were told no.

“We’ve asked the question and it’s not part of the playing conditions,” CA chief executive Kevin Roberts told SEN Radio.

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“I respect that because we’ve said the same thing in tournaments that we run in Australia.

“It gives you cause to reflect on how you might improve things in the future absolutely, but going into a tournament with a given set of playing conditions and rules I don’t think it’s time to tinker with that as much as with an Australian hat on I might love that.”

While there were reserve days in the men’s ODI World Cup last year, the ICC does not schedule the same for the T20 versions, men or women.

“The ICC T20 World Cups are short, sharp events where reserve days are factored in for the final,” an ICC spokesman said. “Allowing for any other reserve days 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.”

Ellyse Perry, left, looks on as Megan Schutt trains at the SCG nets. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Playing conditions also stipulate that, unlike the group stage where it is five overs, a team must face a minimum of 10 overs to constitute a game.

England captain Heather Knight admitted on Wednesday she was surprised by the regulations.

“It’s obviously frustrating,” she said. “It would be nice if we could maybe play it in (Melbourne before the finals), I don’t know if that’s feasible, it’s probably not. It is what it is, it is strange.”

While the Australians are hosting the tournament, the South African side will be just as comfortable at the SCG as their opponents.

Captain Dane van Niekerk and her wife Marizanne Kapp both play for the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL and Kapp was included in this year’s Team of the Tournament.

Bowler Shabnim Ismail plays for the Sydney Thunder and batter Lizelle Lee put in some outstanding performances for the Melbourne Stars, hitting her second WBBL century at the start of the season just passed.

South Africa has never beaten Australia in a T20 game or made the finals of the tournament.

Sophie Molineux, left, with Molly Strano at the SCG

The Australians are sweating on Sophie Molineaux proving her fitness ahead of the semi-final.

The talented allrounder has been kept out of the tournament to this point with a corked thigh, but is the favoured replacement for Perry, who tore a hamstring in the game against New Zealand.

“Sophie could definitely come in and play a role for us. We’ve got a few options to look at to replace Ellyse. Obviously we can’t fully replace her,” captain Meg Lanning said.

“It’s massive and we haven’t looked any further ahead than Thursday. Semi-finals are extremely hard to win at World Cups. It’s the four best teams in the tournament and there are no inches given by any team.”

South Africa have never beaten Australia in any format, and nor have they reached the final of any World Cup in their history.

They are waiting to hear about Kapp’s availability as she has suffered from an elevated heart rate in recent days.

“Marizanne’s very, very important,” captain van Niekerk said.

“She’s not only one of the best pace bowlers in the world, she’s one of the best allrounders. It is a semi-final, but a player’s health is more important than I guess the game.”