The much-anticipated clash in the 2022 T20 World Cup between the Ashes rivals ended up in utter frustration as both the matches on Friday at Melbourne were washed out. With so much at stake, the fans were eager to see two top sides lock horns but persistent rain meant not even the toss was possible as both the teams shared a point each.
Coming into the game, both the sides had one victory and one loss each, and the loser of this match would have had to depend on other teams to advance. After this no result, both sides are still alive in the competition and it could come down to the net run-rate if New Zealand defeat Sri Lanka.
Speaking to the BBC later in the day, England captain Jos Buttler said he was keen to fight it out on the field as these are the matches players want to experience.
“As big as it gets in your career, and they are the games you want to be involved in. No matter what the result is, it’s something you want to experience as a cricketer, and you don’t know how often those opportunities will come around. So, there’s an element of sadness that, win, lose or draw, we couldn’t play the match,”
he told BBC.
The England skipper added that the chances of reaching semi-finals are still in their own hands and is confident they can make it.
“We know we are still in the competition and know, to a certain degree, we have our destiny in our own hands. There is still lots of confidence in the group,”
Buttler added.
England have a better net run-rate (+0.239) compared to Australia (-1.555), but while the Aussies have the remaining two games against Afghanistan and Ireland, England have to face steeper challenges from New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
