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No rain, No play…again – Shameful situation in T&T
By Sean Devers in Trinidad
In association with Cascada Hotel
& Lifetime Real Estate
More frustration greeted those who turned up yesterday for the penultimate day of the fourth and final match of the India, West Indies Test series at the Queens Park Oval on another day blessed with glorious sunshine in Port-of-Spain.
Luckily for most of the players, they remained at their hotel where they were informed that the match was abandoned at 10:25 hrs.
India coach Anil Kumble (left) and West Indies coach Phil Simmons are engaged in conversation, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Port of Spain, 4th day, August 21, 2016 ©Associated Press
Less than a session of play was possible on the first day and none since with West Indies reaching 62-2 in 22 overs with Kraigg Braithwaite, the team’s leading run scorer with 200 runs, unbeaten on 32 and Marlon Samuels, the senior statesman in the side, on four.
Leon Johnson (9) and home boy Daren Bravo (10) were the batsmen dismissed. It’s now virtually impossible to get a result in this content even if there is a full day of action on the final day today which would mean that Pakistan will replace India as the number one Test team in world. India needs a win here to remain at the top of the ICC rankings.
Several fans yesterday said they were very disappointed about the situation.
“Something have to be definitely wrong, cause rain don’t really stop play in the oval for long, so something is really wrong there,” said Troy Cornelius, a former Guyana -19 Captain who now lives here.
“I flew in on Friday and probably will not see one ball bowled since today (yesterday) has just been called off,” lament Chris Ram.
Another Indian fan at the ground yesterday wondered if this was deliberately done to deny India a win and a number one ranking.
According to locals, heavy rain pounded the ground for the last couple of weeks since this is the rainy session here and during this period of the year the most rain fell in Trinidad.
This is the 60th Test at this venue but the first ever during this month in which T&T celebrates its 54th anniversary and it not surprising that it rains at this time.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons, along with other match officials, inspects the outfield, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Port of Spain, 4th day, August 21, 2016 ©AFP
Not enough plans were put in place in the event of the predictable adverse weather by the WICB and the home Board which did not have a super sopper and adequate covers until Saturday when they acquired more for the bowler’s run up.
But the baffling question was why when there was hot sun for the three days only one area near the Western boundary remained soggy? Was there a known drainage problem on that side of the venue?
Also it is understood that the affected area of the ground accommodates the stage for the Carnival Events held at the Queens Park Oval.
In Guyana, the Management of the Providence Stadium no longer allows concerts to be held on the ground. They can only be held on the Tarmac of the Stadium and the ICC should launch an investigation into this matter.
Scores: West Indies 62 for 2 (Brathwaite 32*) v India.
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