ICC defends schedule after another washout

Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes says that if men can land on the moon, the World Cup could include reserve days for group matches after the Tigers' fixture against Sri Lanka in Bristol was washed out on Tuesday.

The umpires' decision left tournament chiefs with the unwanted record for the most number of abandoned games at a World Cup, surpassing the two each at the 1992 and 2003 editions.

It was also the second successive World Cup match in Bristol abandoned without a ball bowled after Sri Lanka's game against Pakistan at southwest county Gloucestershire's headquarters on Friday went the same way.

Image Id: EEF52D7E38F44C6A851BA5A7A2D0157E Image Caption: South Africa's match was abandoned on Monday // Getty

Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka took a point each a day after rain saw only 7.3 overs play in the match between South Africa and the West Indies in Southampton.

Although the International Cricket Council have scheduled reserve days for both semi-finals and the July 14 final at Lord's, there are now concerns rain could have a major bearing on which sides qualify for the last four.

Asked if he would have included reserve days in the 10-team round-robin phase, Rhodes replied: "Yeah, I would. 

"If you know the English weather, sadly, we're going to get a lot of rain.

"I know logistically, it would have been a big headache for the tournament organisers, and I know it would have been difficult.

"But we have got quite a lot of time in between games, and if we have got to travel a day later, then so be it.

"We put men on the moon, so why can't we have a reserve day, when actually this tournament is a long tournament?"

But ICC chief executive Dave Richardson defended the decision not to have reserve days, blaming the unseasonably wet British weather for scuppering the schedule.

"Factoring in a reserve day for every match at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup would significantly increase the length of the tournament and practically would be extremely complex to deliver," he said in a statement.

"It would impact pitch preparation, team recovery and travel days … and very importantly the spectators who in some instances have travelled hours to be at the game. 

"There is also no guarantee that the reserve day would be free from rain either.

"This is extremely unseasonable weather. In the last couple of days, we have experienced more than twice the average monthly rainfall for June which is usually the third driest month in the UK."

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne endorsed Rhodes's comments by saying: "It is not easy, but I feel if they can have a reserve day, it will be good for everyone."

There is some rain forecast for Wednesday's match between Australia and Pakistan in Taunton – although it’s forecast to clear for the majority of the day - and also on Thursday at Trent Bridge, when India take on New Zealand.

"It's important that you get early wins on the board because you don't want to be on the wrong end of a couple of washouts that might leave you just outside that top four," said Australia captain Aaron Finch in Taunton on Tuesday. 

Only one of three World Cup matches scheduled to take place in Bristol produced any play, with champions Australia launching their title defence with a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE