5. Rain – 3; Australia – 0:
Three matches, two washouts and a loss. This is Australia’s Champions Trophy report card. The first two matches were washouts forced by rains. The opening game against New Zealand was an escape, the second fixture against Bangladesh was a possible win but rain interrupted again. Rain made their presence felt in their final game, as well, not once but twice.
On the first instance in the second innings, there was only a delay; on the second instance, it ensured a quick wrap up, as England stood at the brink of a victory. Australia’s contest in the Champions Trophy was not against the opposition teams, it was against the rain Gods. And eventually, as the score line suggests, rains had their way thrice while Australia waited in the pavilion helplessly.