The tri-series between Australia, India and England is heading towards a tremendous finale, after the latest ODI match between Australia and India at the SCG in Sydney was washed out due to rain. It leaves the series in a tantalising position, with the final group match between England and India having a 'winner takes all' scenario to determine who will meet the hosts in the final.
Australia had already qualified a match early, so knew that their place in the final was already guaranteed whatever happened against India in their final group game.
India were looking for a victory to put them in a strong position going into the final game with England. In the end, the match was effectively a non-event as rain intervened periodically throughout what limited play was possible and after only 16 overs had been bowled, with India teetering at 69-2, it was decided to abandon the match completely.
By avoiding defeat, however, India still have an opportunity to qualify for the final, if they can overcome England over the 50-over format in the remaining match still to be played. Defeat for India against Australia would have all but put them out of contention for a final place. Due to the vagaries of the points scoring in the mini-group stage, England currently sit second behind the Aussies and importantly three points ahead of India.
With four points on offer for a win in the final game on Friday in Perth, India can still just sneak their way into second place instead at England's expense. However, the Three Lions will be seeking to make all of that immaterial by winning the game one feels, to boost confidence ahead of not only the final here, but also for the forthcoming ODI World Cup.
With only one victory for England (against India) so far in the series and two defeats to Australia, the jury is still out as to whether new captain Eoin Morgan is doing a better job with the players available than his predecessor Alastair Cook managed. Amid blackmail plots and a heavy first match thrashing to the hosts, it has been an inauspicious start to Morgan's captaincy, but there were signs in the equally convincing victory over India and narrow defeat to Australia that followed, to indicate they may be moving (tentatively) in the right direction again.