England’s anticipated T20 World Cup clash with Australia was abandoned due to bad weather in Melbourne, but what does that mean for their hopes of reaching the semi-finals?
Defeat for either side at the MCG would have severely dented their hopes of progressing from the Super 12s, although the no-result leaves Group 1 wide open with two full rounds of group fixtures remaining.
England move to second in the group based on their superior net run rate and Australia also sit on three points, with Ireland in between them in the standings on the same total after their game against Afghanistan was also rained off.
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England captain Jos Buttler says they are now fully focused on keeping their tournament alive against New Zealand after the Australia game was abandoned.
Despite a share of the spoils against Australia, the scenario for England has stayed pretty much the same: win every game from here on and they could – and perhaps should – reach the last four.
Victories over New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday and then Sri Lanka in Sydney on Bonfire Night would take Jos Buttler’s side to seven points in Group 1, while Australia will reach the same total if they beat the two perceived weakest teams in the pool – Ireland in Brisbane on Monday and Afghanistan in Adelaide next Friday.