For all the anticipation surrounding this year’s Champions Trophy, when it rains, it bores.
A tournament that was in danger of being crowded out by both the ODI and T20 World Cups has gained traction after two years in which a score of 300 has almost become par.
But the 2017 instalment is in danger of moving from damp squib to downright farce and if the ICC say they did not see this coming, they’d be lying.
Global warming might be an irrevocable problem but British weather in early June remains about as tropical as an umbrella.
Hosting a global one-day tournament in the United Kingdom before July is even in view, without the safety net of reserve days, a downright head-scratcher.
The British public do their best to fill out venues with or without England but money doesn’t talk quite so alluringly when refunds are being dished out left, right and centre.
Grim areas 🌧#AUSvBAN #CT17 pic.twitter.com/tC9pARhP92
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2017
Even this Englishman has to feel some sympathy for Australia after watching their first two matches end so miserably under grey skies.
They were in a precarious position against New Zealand but nowhere near ready to wave the white flag, and they were four overs away from recording a routine win against Bangladesh.
A do-or-die showdown against England might be box office – but it could well be their only full day at the office.
One of the reasons why the Champions Trophy was being talked up is due to its condensed nature compared to the sprawling World Cup. Yet does anyone want one of the tournament favourites to make their exit within the blink of an eye?
Up until England’s clash with New Zealand – which the meteorologists were also worried about – 87 overs across three rain-affected matches had already been lost. That’s nearly a game’s worth right off the bat.
In 2013, seven games fell foul of the elements in some way and the final, of course, was reduced to a 20-over game. India beat England in a clash that went down to the last ball and, while it was exciting, no one is desperate for yet another T20.
It turns out that the administrators have an exceedingly short memory – or reason that the financial figures stack up better than hosting the tournament in any other country, even taking into account the weather. Either way, priorities are woefully misplaced.
For what it’s worth, Australia have a great chance to save the powers-that-be from embarrassment by beating England and qualifying for the knockouts, just for the fact that they’ll be riled up beyond belief.
The #ChampionsTrophy2017 now has a problem. 2 games washed out, 3 one-sided results. Desperately needs a thriller.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 5, 2017
The Australians have not won a Champions Trophy match since clinching the trophy in 2009 and are rather fresh for the match against the bitter foes at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Their pace attack saw off Bangladesh far more impressively than England’s did – Mitchell Starc and particularly Pat Cummins got their line and length spot on, whereas Josh Hazlewood was the only man to emerge with credit against New Zealand.
As a collective, their top three batsmen – Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steve Smith – beat their England counterparts solely because Jason Roy is so out of touch.
They need to get all the ingredients right but with their backs to the wall against a partisan crowd – Australia will be in their element.
