Australia’s opening match against New Zealand and India versus Pakistan are both at risk of being rained out this weekend, when the Twenty20 World Cup’s marquee matches are scheduled to take place.
Parts of Australia are experiencing a third consecutive La Nina weather condition, with a wetter-than-average summer anticipated and downpours predicted for Sydney and Melbourne from this Friday through the next week.
Australia will begin their championship defense against New Zealand at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday evening. The match will be a replica of the 2021 final in Dubai, where Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 77 drove Australia to an eight-wicket victory and their first trophy.
However, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts a “very high (90%) likelihood of showers” and possible thunderstorms, with no reserve days for group games. They are only utilized in the semifinals and final.
It is similarly bleak on Sunday in Melbourne, where India will face Pakistan in a highly-anticipated match that will be viewed by tens of millions of viewers.
A minimum of five overs each side is necessary for a match to be considered valid.
The weather might also wreak havoc in Hobart, where games are scheduled for Friday and Sunday, although the weather prognosis for England’s match against Afghanistan in Perth on Saturday is favorable.
Australia has a wonderful opportunity to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 world titles, since they are the only victors of cricket’s shortest format to defend their championship at home.
However, they begin their campaign this month on the heels of a 2-0 series loss to England, with Finch conceding that they were “weary” after a rigorous build-up.
Despite the difficult start, pace leader Pat Cummins maintained they were in a stronger position having beating the odds to win the championship last year.
Better prepared
This week, he stated, “I think in some respects we are even more equipped.” “We have played a great deal more and drew from last year’s experiences.
“That being said, T20 is an extremely volatile format. There are likely four or five teams that could possibly win the competition.
New Zealand, captained by Kane Williamson, enters the competition with a mixed record, having lost to South Africa and Pakistan but lately prevailing against Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Fast bowler Tim Southee is not fooled by the notion that Australia will be a formidable opponent, should their match take place.
“You cannot even provide them a whiff. “They are an elite team,” he stated.
England, which has dominated white-ball cricket in recent years, is in the same six-team group as Australia and New Zealand and could be their greatest rival.
On Wednesday, fast bowler Reece Topley was pulled out of the competition due to an ankle injury, and fellow left-armer Tymal Mills was elevated from his prior status as a traveling reserve.
With just two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals, they were already without their injured top batsman Johnny Bairstow.
India enter their match against Pakistan as the top-ranked team in the world, but have not won a major trophy since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and vital all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja are absent, but captain Rohit Sharma maintains that the squad is capable of coping.
“The bowlers who have traveled with us to the World Cup have played sufficient matches,” he stated, with Mohammed Shami replacing Bumrah.
Pakistan, who recently won a Twenty20 tri-series in New Zealand, welcome back pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has recovered from a knee injury.
“The team is confident,” stated captain Babar Azam.