The performance of the ground staff at Port of Spain was the decider of the fourth and final test match of the series between India and West Indies. Despite a bright sunshine on the last 4 days of the match, there was not a single ball bowled, play being called off each day. West Indies were 62 for 2 in 22 overs on the first morning when the skies opened up but the lacklustre approach of the ground staff caused delay in covering the playing surface and hence too much water filled up the outfield. On top of that, there was no super sopper to dry up the outfield and hence the outfield remained unplayable for the rest of the match.
The result of the match did not alter the final result as India took the series 2-0, winning 2 test matches in a single series in West Indies for the first time. The major setback though was the test ranking. Before the start of the fourth match, India had jumped to No. 1 rank in the ICC test rankings courtesy of the whitewash of Australia in Sri Lanka but to remain on top, India needed to win. The rain washed away the pole position for India as well. India would be happy with their overall performance in the series with most of the batsmen scoring runs and all the bowlers amongst wickets.
West Indies, as a team have failed miserably in this series with an exception of a couple of performances. Barring a defiant century from Chase, counter attacking half centuries from Blackwood and a couple of fiery spells from Gabriel and Cummins, the West Indies team failed to compete with India in any aspect.
Overall, a decent practice for India and a wake up call for West Indies cricket board to stop playing with the emotions of the passionate West Indian cricket fans by keeping the better and deserving West Indian players away from the field.