Another day was lost to cricket at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday and India’s chances of retaining the number one position in Test cricket has all but faded.
Cricket fans turned up at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday to witness the ground staff digging up the outfield in an effort to irrigate it, to improve drainage. It was too little too late as the contractors who should have done this before the Test match had no time to effect it, due to the constant use of the Oval.
The result being that the third day of the fourth and final Seagrams Test match was washed out, leaving India with two days to force a positive result, or Pakistan would overtake them as the number one ranked Test team in the world.
Guardian Media understands that the problem at the Oval has to do with algae on the outfield due to poor irrigation and this led to poor drainage at the Mecca of local cricket.
Rain has been making an unwelcome appearance at regular times during this series and started in the second Test in Jamaica, with only 16 overs play possible on the fourth day. Then the third day of the St Lucia Test was washed out and on the opening day of this match, only 22 overs were possible.
In that time West Indies lost the wickets caught at short leg for nine of the bowling of Ishant Sharma and Darren Bravo, bowled by Ravi Ashwin for 10. At the crease and hoping to resume today will be opener Kraigg Brathwaite on 31 and Marlon Samuels four not out.