IND v WI 4th Test: 5th day washed out, India win series but lose top ranking

Third shortest ever Test match in the history

 

 

Port of Spain: India on Monday recorded their biggest Test series win on the Caribbean soil with a 2-0 victory over the West Indies following a washout in the fourth match but ended up losing the number one spot in the ICC rankings, here.

Only 22 overs of play was possible on the opening day of the final Test match, which turned out to be the third shortest ever Test match in the history of 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 3-0 to retain the number one spot but inclement weather along with deplorable drainage facility at the Queens Park Oval prevented play.

Pakistan are now on top of ICC Test rankings.

West Indies were 62 for 2 in those 22 overs of play. The worst part was that WICB and local authorities did not pay heed to proper drainage and recovery facilities.

August is considered to be a rainy season in Trinidad and Tobago and there was heavy rainfall prior to the Test match.

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 ground 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.

Pacaman Mohammed Shami also had a successful comeback post his knee surgery and 16 month hibernation getting 11 wickets in the process.

The two teams now move to Florida in the United States to play two T20 Internationals on August 27 and 28.