Rain could yet become as significant an influence as Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara at the cricket World Cup.
Australia almost became the latest victims of South Africa's recent bad weather on Thursday.
Ricky Ponting's team only escaped with all four points from Potchefstroom thanks to a police helicopter -- used to help blow-dry the pitch -- and their co-operative opponents.
The Dutch amateurs could have justifiably argued the soggy surface was not fit for cricket but instead voted unanimously to play, determined to enjoy their big day against the world champions.
One match, however -- West Indies versus Bangladesh -- has already been rained off, depriving Carl Hooper's side of two certain points against weaker opponents.
Two other games, including the pivotal Group B encounter between New Zealand and South Africa, have also been affected by downpours, leading to revised run chases.
With no time to replay first-round matches, the weather could have a big influence on team prospects right up to the semifinals, according to Australia coach John Buchanan.
"Teams going through to the Super Sixes would like to take a maximum of 12 points," Buchanan said. "In our situation, assuming we qualify, it [a rained-off game] potentially brings our points back closer to the other teams.
"Therefore it's more bunched and alters the dynamics of the whole Super Six section."
Teams take four points from each victory against fellow qualifiers into the Super Six second phase, as well as one point for each win against eliminated sides.
Buchanan added that some teams hoping to qualify for the second round "might not even get there" because of bad weather, adding, "If they do get there it means it's life on the edge and they just can't afford to lose another game."
The West Indian wash-out at Benoni on Tuesday had already had a significant effect on South African chances of staying in the tournament.
Shaun Pollock's team lost two of their first three games, leaving them reliant on other results to avoid an early exit.
But the West Indies' misfortune means they will now almost certainly qualify just by winning their last three matches, whatever other results. Pollock said the rain had given his team "a lifeline."
Bad weather has had a huge effect on the cricket World Cup before.
In 1992 it played a large part in deciding both finalists.
Pakistan, the eventual champions, lost three first-round matches but were saved by the rain against England after being bowled out for 74. Had they lost that game, they would have been eliminated at the first hurdle.
South Africa, meanwhile, well-placed in its semifinal against England, was robbed of a chance of victory as rain cut short the match.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
RSS