To say it’s been a frustrating Champions Trophy so far would be an understatement. Australia have had both of their games against New Zealand and Bangladesh washed out due to rain, and the situation to make the semi-finals is a tricky one. Lucky for you, The Roar have it all figured out.
Halfway through the Group A matches and it’s a shemozzle. Australia are on two points with their two washed out matches.
Let’s be honest, New Zealand would have beaten them comprehensively – but then again Australia would have beaten Bangladesh comprehensively.
Anyway, here’s how the group stands at the moment.
England defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets
It was a convincing start for the hosts as they limited the Tigers to 305, then chased it down with 16 balls to spare and only two wickets lost.
New Zealand No-result against Australia
New Zealand were on top, then they got flattened for 291 by Josh Hazlewood and his six wickets. With the game already down to 46 overs, Australia were 3 for 53 off nine when rain stopped play.
Bangladesh No-result against Australia
The Tigers were knocked over by Australia for just 182, with Tamim Iqbal making 95 and Mitchell Starc taking 4 for 29. Australia were 1 for 83, just four overs short of the required 20 for a match to be constituted when rain hit.
June 6 – England verus New Zealand at Sophia Gardens
June 9 – New Zealand versus Bangladesh at Sophia Gardens
June 10 – England versus Australia At Edgbaston
| Pos. | Played | Team | Won | Lost | No result | Points | Net Run Rate |
| 1 | 1 | England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.407 |
| 2 | 2 | Australia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | 2 | Bangladesh | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -0.407 |
So, what happens now?
If England beat New Zealand
England win and they are through to the semi-finals on four points, no matter what happens.
A loss for the Kiwis is potentially disastrous though as it would leave them on one point, one behind Australia with a game to play and needing Australia to lose to England on the weekend.
If New Zealand beat England
This is where the fun begins. If New Zealand win, they would shoot to the top of the group on three points, one ahead of both England and Australia and from there, be in control of their own destiny.
It would essentially mean the Australia versus England game on Saturday would be a quarter-final come early, while Bangladesh would also still be in the picture if they found a way to edge past New Zealand.
One game out of the way and already a bunch of different scenarios. Who is still with us?
If England and New Zealand are rained out?
England would go to three points and still control their own destiny with a superior net run rate over all the other sides in the group.
New Zealand would be on two points, equal with Australia on both points and net run rate.
New Zealand and Bangladesh play on Saturday
If New Zealand find a way over England on Tuesday, they hold their own destiny. A win over Bangladesh puts them on five points and straight through to the semi-finals.
However, New Zealand lose to England tonight and they must win, then hope things go their way to make it – i.e. England beat Australia to leave them on two points.
Bangladesh are also still in the hunt if England win on Tuesday. It would put them on the same as New Zealand heading into their pivotal match, and a win over them would mean they go to three, New Zealand would be eliminated and Australia would need to beat England just to get over the Tigers and into the finals. Still following us?
Australia play England on Sunday
We know that Australia will enter the final game of the tournament on two points, with a net run rate of zero. There are no if’s and no but’s – they must beat England to make the semi-finals.
England may already be through by that point if they get the better of New Zealand, however a loss means they would probably also need to win.
But, what happens if every game from here to the end is rained out?
No, seriously – what happens? We don’t know. My suggestions is for a super over to be bowled on the morning of the semi-final between Australia and New Zealand, who would be both tied on three points.
Aussie lover
Guest
What about maxii?
James
Guest
Exactly, averages are obviously important but in games where bowlers are limited to only 50 overs or 20 overs surely the number of runs they score off you per over is most important. Also good grief man you are obsessed with England, you are like a guy who has been dumped by a girl and so mentions her in every single conversation.
Braintrust
Guest
The problem is the reverse cricket has expanded into countries with no economic value, Its not about the playing standard of the lower tier countries its that they bring nothing to the table. Afghanistan might have players in the IPL but they have no money. Making an Irish team when there is no interest in Ireland, and the players are sourced from those who moved to England, its not adding money from another market. In economic terms already North American TV rights is the next big area for cricket. You have the US and Canada which now have about 2 million Indian immigrants each, on top of the expat Carribean population and this has made a new market for cricket.
Art Vanderlay
Guest
That's not gold more like iron pyrites.
twodogs
Guest
Which means theoretically, we should smash 'em. ☺
Brett Knuchel
Guest
Also, I did miss the head to head tie breaker but it comes after net run rate and therefore will not be a factor for determining if Australia qualifies for semi finals as Australia will only get to net run rate if three teams finish with a loss to England and two no results. If Australia has another no result and ties another team with a win, a loss and a no result then the other team will progress. The source is http://www.cricket.com.au/news/how-australia-can-still-qualify-champions-trophy-semi-finals-after-washout-new-zealand-edgbaston/2017-06-03.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I agree. For example, England have five bowlers in their Champions Trophy squad with a worse economy rate than the worst in history by an Australian bowler. Stokes (6.07rpo), Plunkett (5.77), Willey (5.72), Rashid (5.67) and Woakes (5.58) all have worse economy rates than any Australian bowler EVER. Meanwhile, Australia have Hazlewood (4.66), Starc (4.81) and Hastings (5.07).
James
Guest
Why do we care about averages of bowlers so much in odis and not how many runs are scored against them per over?
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Do we get a bonus point if Maxwell takes s wicket .....
Paul D
Roar Guru
The cutting of the World Cup to ten teams is an admission from the ICC that they don't feel cricket is going to expand beyond its current frontiers in any meaningful way. Certainly not to professional standards. It's about preserving what's left now. Agreed on the test championship too. Needed far more than this tournament.
Brissie Bay
Guest
Agreed. I'm a massive cricket nut and am struggling to get into this tournament. The whole premise of the Champions Trophy was that it was meant to be a shortened version of the World Cup, but now that the ICC has cut the World Cup to 10 teams it has essentially lost its function. The fact that England is hosting for the second time in a row with a World Cup coming up over there in two years doesn't help either. Would have much rathered they had consigned the tournament to the dustbin as they said they were going to after the 2013 edition and gone ahead with the Test Championship tbh.
Braintrust
Guest
Even if Eng get a negative run rate they are still through because of this number of wins rules. They really have worked out a really stupid way which will punish teams who have washed out matches by considering that as the first tie breaker.
Republican
Guest
NZ to defeat the Sassenachs I reckon.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Even if Australia miss the semi finals - don't worry. Everyone will have forgotten this tournament a few days after it's over.
Jara W
Guest
The scenario I am most concerned about is if NZ beat ENG (but not by enough to give ENG a negative NRR.) In this case if AUS vs ENG is washed out it will be Englands win over Bangladesh that gives them the advantage and sees them through. Very tough to take when you consider the difference between the AUS vs BAN game. Surely there is something we can do with NRR and incomplete matches. Imagine if a team played three matches like last night but failed to qualify. Perhaps worse what if a team played three games in Bangladeshs shoes and did qualify due to a superior NRR. Ahhhh... Cricket!!
Jara W
Guest
The scenario I am most concerned about is is NZ beat ENG (but not by enough to give ENG a negative NRR.) In this case if AUS vs ENG is washed out it will be Englands win over Bangladesh that gives them the advantage and sees them through. Very tough to take when you consider the difference between the AUS vs BAN game. Surely there is something we can do with NRR and incomplete matches. Imagine if a team played three matches like last night but failed to qualify. Perhaps worse what if a team played three games in Bangladeshs shoes and did qualify due to a superior NRR. Ahhhh... Cricket!!
Al
Guest
Where did you find that, Brett? I had a quick look and couldn't find CT playing conditions. Under the more general ODI playing conditions, tie breakers for series are listed as follows: 1. Number of wins 2. Number of wins over tied teams 3. Highest number of bonus points 4. NRR
Brett Knuchel
Guest
These scenarios are wrong. In the event of teams tied on points, the tie breakers are applied in the following order. 1 Number of Wins 2 Net Run Rate 3 Seeding. Accordingly Australia must beat England to qualify unless NZ v Bangladesh is a no result or tie. If NZ v Bangladesh is a tie or no result then Australia can still progress with a no result or tie if NZ fails to beat England. Australia could also progress with a narrow loss on net run rate if NZ lose to England and NZ v Bangladesh is a tie or no result. If all remaining matches are no results then England and Australia qualify.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
I want to see every game rained out just for the gold Dan Liebke will be able to spin from it.