PTI
Port of Spain, August 22: India recorded their biggest Test series win on Caribbean soil with a 2-0 victory over the West Indies following a washout in the fourth Test but ended up losing the No.1 spot in the ICC rankings, here Monday.
Only 22 overs of play was possible on the opening day of the final Test, which turned out to be the third shortest-ever match in the history of the longer format.
For the fourth successive day, not a single ball could be bowled, forcing the umpires to call off the match.
India became the top-ranked Test nation after Sri Lanka thrashed Australia 3-0 at home while Pakistan after their creditable 2-2 draw were No 2 in the rankings.
India required to win the series against the West Indies by a 3-0 margin to retain the No.1 spot but inclement weather along with deplorable drainage facility at the Queens Park Oval prevented play. This helped Pakistan go on top of the ICC Test rankings with 111 points. India are currently on second spot with 110.
The worst part was that WICB and local authorities did not pay heed to proper drainage and recovery facilities. The groundsmen also did not cover the entire field after a heavy downpour which led to the bowlers’ run-up being very soggy and it could not be dried up.
The other inexplicable factor was absence of a Super Sopper, which is a mandatory feature in all top international cricket grounds across the globe.
For India, Virat Kohli with 251 runs including a maiden double hundred was the top-scorer followed by Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul with 243 and 236 runs respectively with a century each.
The best all-round performer was Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored 235 runs with two centuries and claimed 17 wickets. Paceman Mohammed Shami also had a successful comeback post his knee surgery, getting 11 wickets in the process.
Pink revolution begins today
Greater Noida: Indian cricket will be taking its first steps into an unknown territory as Yuvraj Singh’s ‘Red’ team take on Suresh Raina’s ‘Green’ brigade in the first ever match to be played with pink ball under floodlights and coloured clothing.
While there is a novelty factor with regards to an official first class match being played with pink ball, the lack of top stars will certainly rob some sheen from the Duleep Trophy beginning here Tuesday.
It is effectively the third string that will be playing the tournament with old guards like Yuvraj, Gautam Gambhir (Blue team) and Raina providing the BCCI with their inputs on conditions and other variables associated with an experiment of this magnitude.
Technically, this is not the first ever D/N first-class match in India as the 1995 Ranji final between Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay back then) was played in Gwalior but with white ball.
With ICC keen on promoting D/N Tests in order to bring back the dwindling crowd in the longer format, the BCCI is keen on testing waters even though there are remote chances of a much anticipated ‘Pink Ball’ Test being played during the upcoming home season.
The pink Kookaburra ball is known to swing more than its red counterpart and hence how the veterans handle the pacers like Ashok Dinda, Nathu Singh and Anureet Singh will be closely watched.
Yuvraj, however, stated that he is excited at being a part of the ‘pink revolution’. “It will be exciting and we expect pink ball to swing. Unless we are out there in the middle, it will be difficult to give a feedback. We all saw the Australia versus New Zealand encounter and how much the ball swung. So we are prepared for it,” said Yuvraj.
