The long-awaited T20 World Cup final is under threat, with Melbourne predicted to be drenched in rain on Sunday evening.
Three T20 World Cup matches at the iconic MCG have already been abandoned due to the weather, while Ireland pulled off a surprise win over England after rain brought a premature end to their Super 12 contest.
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Rain also denied host nation Australia the chance to face rivals England in a must-win match at the MCG, effectively knocking the defending champions out of the tournament.
And now the final is in jeopardy, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a 95 per cent chance of rain (8 to 20mm) in the Victorian capital on Sunday.
More than 90,000 spectators are expected through the gates on Sunday, but that number could drop considerably if the weather intervenes.
Unlike group stage matches, T20 World Cup knockout matches are allocated a reserve day, with a final reserve slot scheduled for 3pm on Monday afternoon with an additional two hours allocated to complete the match if there are rain interruptions.
But to everyone’s frustration, Monday’s forecast isn’t particularly promising either, with the Bureau predicting a 95 per cent chance of showers (5 to 10mm).
“Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day,” the T20 World Cup playing conditions read.
“Only if the minimum number of overs required to constitute a match cannot be played on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day.”
If the final is scrapped, the trophy will be split between the two finalists.
Seconds the agethe organizers of the T20 World Cup will not change the start time to favorable weather conditions due to the preferences of global broadcasters.
While the group stage matches only required five overs in the second innings to constitute a result, at least 10 overs will have to be bowled in the chase during the final.
Earlier this year, the Bureau confirmed that climate engine La Nina had returned again for summer 2022/23, and its effects are already being felt on the east coast with severe flooding in New Wales from South and Victoria.
“Typically with La Nina, it brings extra cloud cover and extra rain across eastern, northern and central Australia,” Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe told news.com.au last year .
“It also leads to generally near or below average temperatures in these regions.
“Especially for the games in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, there is a higher chance of rain than usual, so there is a greater chance that the games could be called off.”
Andrew Watkins, head of long-range forecasting at the Met Office, warned La Nina would hit the east coast earlier than usual this summer, much to the frustration of T20 World Cup organisers.
“Right now, this La Nina doesn’t look particularly strong and it looks like it’s going to peak probably in early summer or late spring,” Watkins told ABC last month.
“Which is a little unusual, a little different from the La Ninas we’ve been seeing the last few years.”
The rare weather phenomenon has occurred in Australia 16 times over the past 122 years.
Read related topics:MelbourneWeather