Scheduling quirk sets up must-win clash

A scheduling quirk and a twist of fate means Australia's Champions Trophy campaign will go on the line in a must-win clash against fierce rivals England on Saturday.

In the middle of a disjointed campaign where Australia's players have spent more time watching rain fall than playing cricket, the early forecast for Birmingham this weekend - cloudy but no rain - is a rare bit of good news for a frustrated group of players.

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The fact that Steve Smith's side finds itself with two points from two matches, thanks to back-to-back wash-outs, could be easily blamed on England's notoriously drab summer.

But it's important to note that Australia's three washed-out games on this tour (a warm-up game against Pakistan and their two group matches) have fallen on the only three rainy days they've had since they officially gathered in London more than a fortnight ago.

The fact that the rain came on Monday evening in London, when Australia were on the verge of a huge victory against Bangladesh, was also particularly galling as the match is one of only two day-night games in the tournament.

A result would have been possible had there been a morning start, but the combination of two neutral teams and the fact it was played on a Monday led organisers to decide on a later start to entice locals to attend after work. It was a well-intentioned decision that was made months ago, but one that only adds to the frustration.

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Smith was visibly disappointed with the outcome against Bangladesh, particularly given Australia needed to face just four more overs to win the match and move to the top of the group.

While he conceded groundstaff "could have shown a bit more urgency" to prepare the ground when the rain stopped for around 45 minutes after the initial downpour and an 8.30pm re-start time was announced, Smith refused to point the finger at anyone other than the weather gods.

"It's a little bit frustrating obviously not to get a result in," he said. "The groundsmen, they perhaps could have shown a bit more urgency being a big tournament.

"But I think they did the best job they could, and the umpires said it was an 8.30pm start, so you've got to do what the umpires say.

"Of course I didn't want to go off (when play stopped at the end of the 16th over). I was happy to keep batting through the rain.

"Obviously the umpires are there to make a decision and I think drinks was at the end of that over, which probably didn't help.

"If the game had just carried on, perhaps they may have had a different opinion. But to be fair, it was raining reasonably hard when we did come off."

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Having conceded his side "got away with one" when their game against New Zealand was washed out on Friday, perhaps the fact Australia will return to Birmingham tomorrow with just two points is cricket's way of evening the score.

In any case, Smith is embracing what is effectively a quarter-final against the old enemy at Edgbaston.

"The equation is pretty simple for us now - we have to beat England and I think then we're through," Smith said.

"I haven't really read into all the (scenarios). I guess we've just got to beat England.

Australia will keep an eye on the result of New Zealand's two remaining Group A matches in Cardiff this week, against England tonight and Bangladesh on Friday, before they take on the hosts on Saturday.

Net run rate and the possibility of more rain in the Welsh capital this week complicates matters, but it seems likely that the Aussies will at least have to avoid defeat at Edgbaston to progress to the semi-finals.

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation

Schedule

1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India beat Pakistan by 124 runs

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, No Result

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)