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Weather frustrates India’s hopes to retain top Test spot
PORT OF SPAIN: Damp outfield and persistent rain in the afternoon forced the third day’s play in the fourth Test to be abandoned here on Saturday. With just two
PORT OF SPAIN: Damp outfield and persistent rain in the afternoon forced the third day’s play in the fourth Test to be abandoned here on Saturday. With just two days to go for this match, a result looks unlikely, meaning India might have to finish the Test series 2-0 and relinquish the top spot in the ICC rankings to Pakistan.
Having drawn their series in England 2-2, Pakistan have 111 rating points. India, who moved atop the rankings after Australia’s 0-3 rout in Sri Lanka, have 112 rating points but if the series finishes as it is, they will have only 110 rating points and slip to second.
Given how Pakistan have fought in England, no one will grudge their ascendancy, maybe not even India. With a long home season coming up, India will get plenty of opportunities to get back to the top spot. This series has already provided India an unprecedented result but given West Indies’ frail batting, India still could have made something happen if they get nine sessions here. The ground at the Queen’s Park Oval, however, played spoilsport by taking too much time to dry up.
The biggest problem was with a spot in the outfield where water wasn’t draining out properly. The ground staff was seen opening up that part of the field with pitchforks and then covering the area when it started raining again just before noon.
It also seemed that there weren’t adequate measures taken to cover the ground properly. For most part of the rain on the first day, the bowlers’ run-ups were left open. There were attempts to make that stretch ready for play with blow dryers but it clearly wasn’t enough despite no rain on Friday.
On Saturday though, the run-ups were finally covered but by then it was already raining. With play scheduled to start at 9.30 am, India came in early. But when it started raining, they were seen putting their feet up and having a good time in the seating area outside the dressing room.
If it continues like this, West Indies could consider them lucky to escape with a 0-2 defeat. Locals and administrators have been saying that cricket this time of the year is unseasonal due to tropical storms in the Caribbean.
