ODI World Cup 2023

Beyond the forecast: Role of reserve days in ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals

The league stages of the ODI World Cup 2023 have drawn to a close, setting the stage for intense semi-final clashes. The top four teams—India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand—are gearing up for high-stakes encounters, with India set to face New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium for the first semi-final, and South Africa squaring off against Australia at Eden Gardens for the second semi-final.

Amid the excitement, a sense of concern looms among fans, fueled by the memories of past rain-related disruptions. Indian fans, in particular, recall a previous World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, where rain on the scheduled day led to a loss on the reserve day. Many believe that had the match been played as originally planned, India’s stellar form could have secured victory.

Addressing these concerns, the International Cricket Board has confirmed the provision of reserve days for both semi-finals and the final if weather conditions interfere with the scheduled matches. Umpires will first attempt to complete the game on the scheduled day, even if it means reducing the contest to a minimum of 20 overs per side. If this proves unfeasible, the reserve day will come into play.

Reflecting on possible scenarios, two examples illustrate the conditions depending on when rain interrupts the game:

Example 1: Early Rain Interruption

– If rain disrupts proceedings before or in the 19th over, reducing the game to 46 overs per side, and the rain returns after play is set to resume, the match will be called off for the day. The contest will continue on the reserve day with a full quota of 50 overs per side.

Example 2: Rain Halting Midway

– In a scenario where rain interrupts play before or in the 19th over, resulting in a reduction to 46 overs per side, and the rain returns after just two balls following the resumption, the match will continue on the reserve day as a 46-over encounter for each side.

As the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the semi-finals, the International Cricket Board’s proactive approach to potential weather disruptions ensures that fans can look forward to fair and conclusive outcomes, minimizing the impact of unpredictable weather conditions on the thrilling climax of the ODI World Cup 2023.