Cricket World Cup: Rain delays Aus game

Showers in Brisbane have delayed the start to Australia's match against Bangladesh. Photo / Getty

Showers have postponed the start of play in Australia's World Cup clash with Bangladesh at the Gabba on Saturday.

The match was scheduled to start at 4.30pm NZT, but organisers are still hopeful of play getting underway with showers expected to ease.

The Gabba has been hit hard by rain since Friday as tropical Cyclone Marcia moves down the Queensland coast.

Organisers say the toss will not be taken until the rain stops. They are hoping a match will be held due to the Gabba's famous drainage, even at the minimum allowed 20 overs a side.

The deadline for a final call on whether a match will get underway is 10.30pm NZT, with no reserve days for pool matches

A washout would delay Michael Clarke's comeback from hamstring surgery, although the captain's inclusion had yet to be confirmed as the naming of the Australian XI had been delayed.

If points are split for a no result in Brisbane, there will be more pressure on Australia to defeat New Zealand in their next match in Auckland on February 28. A loss in that match would put them on course for a semifinal showdown with the highly fancied Kiwis at Eden Park on March 24.

-AAP