Australia’s much-anticipated Twenty20 World Cup clash with England at the MCG has been abandoned without a ball being bowled.
It has been raining persistently in Melbourne this week and Friday was no better, leading to the cancellation of one of the blockbuster matches of the tournament.
No rain fell from just before 7pm Australian time, the scheduled start time, but the match did not start as umpires were concerned about wet areas on the ground and near the pitch.
The umpires held two further pitch inspections and promised to do do another one at 8.50pm, but it never happened as a short shower started and the covers were again placed back on the MCG pitch.
Shortly after, opposing captains Aaron Finch and Jos Buttler shook hands to signal the abandonment of the match.
The first game of the day between Ireland and Afghanistan was also called off because of poor weather.
