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SCG curator backs ground to beat the rain

3 minute read

Rain is forecast for Sydney on Thursday but the SCG curator insists his ground will be ready to get a game in for the women's Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals.

Pictorial view of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Pictorial view of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

SCG officials are confident lessons from the Big Bash Final will help them get a game on in both women's Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals on Thursday.

Rain is forecast in Sydney for the double-header, with between 10 and 20mL predicted to fall around the SCG on Thursday.

If the matches are washed out, Australia and England will be knocked out with South Africa and India to progress.

But SCG curator Adam Lewis said a largely dry week in Sydney meant there would not be any issues with the ground once the rain let up.

"We have had a really clear week this week, we knew that the rain was coming so we have prepped this one a little early," Lewis said.

"We are really happy with the wicket itself and the surroundings. The outfield has come up really well.

"We have had approximately 25-30ml in the past few days, and it had no affect on the outfield. So we are looking really good leading into tomorrow's match."

The SCG proved itself to be one of the best draining grounds in the world last month when a 12-over game was able to be played for the BBL final, after record deluges.

A minimum of 10 overs per side must be bowled to constitute a match in each of the semi-finals between India and England as well as Australia and South Africa.

"We learned a lot from the Twenty20 finals, so the guys have a lot of experience now with wet weather," Lewis said.

"So if we do happen to have a little bit of rain we are well prepared and we knew we will be able to get the guys on as soon as we have a bit of clear weather."

Meanwhile, the ICC has come under fire for the lack of a reserve day, after one was available in last year's men's 50-over World Cup with a similar finals schedule.

No such option is afforded in the men's and women's T20 tournaments this year.

England captain Heather Knight, India counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur and South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk all claimed one should be available.

Knight also suggested the semi-final could be moved to Melbourne, with domestic semi-finals and finals all played on the one day in England.

"It's obviously frustrating," she said.

"If both semi-finals are lost it would be a sad time for the tournament.

"It's obviously going to be a shame if it does happen and I'm sure there will be a lot of pressure on the ICC to change that."

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