India won the four-test series 2-0 but surrendered top spot in the rankings. Talking about the defeat margin, he said, “I think that we should have been 1-0”.
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The team, whose last Test was way back in November 2014, had been temporarily removed from the rankings owing to having played few matches to warrant any listing. We had come here looking to improve in a few areas and we have done that. India needed to win the fourth test to retain their top spot. Earlier reports had suggested that ZC were contemplating replacing the longer format with a Triangular series involving Sri Lanka and West Indies.
“We looked set to compete at certain stages of the series but just couldn’t close out at crucial stages”, he explained. “That’s something that I saw in this series as well”. The battle for the number-one ranking between the two traditional rivals will resume in September-October when New Zealand will visit India and Pakistan will host the West Indies in the UAE.
The 29-year-old Ashwin was adjudged Man-of-the-series for his all-round performance. “This is what cricketers play for and want to achieve in their careers”, he said.
Reflecting on the reason to do so, the swashbuckling batsman said that he wanted to try different combinations keeping in mind the upcoming home packed season.
Simmons stated he was surprised there had been no cricket at the Queen’s Park Oval for the past four days.
In the end though, the deplorable playing conditions and the local authorities’ unpreparedness in coping with the challenges caused by the rains of the first afternoon rendered the tactical alterations meaningless.
The matter will be deliberated at a special ICC board meeting in Dubai next month, but ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has said that they will oppose the idea of a two-tier Test system.
“We certainly ensure they are equipped with the necessary tools”.
The last three days of the Test also had abundant sunshine, but the outfield did not dry despite various efforts of the ground staff at Queen’s Park Oval, which did not have a super-sopper at its disposal.
West Indies legend Vivian Richards has called for an enquiry into the fiasco, describing the situation as “unacceptable”. The match will start at 6:00PM Pakistan Standard Time.
Pakistan’s next scheduled Test series is away in New Zealand, with the first match beginning in Christchurch on November 17.
If approved the move will see Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and West Indies possibly being relegated to the second division and joining emerging nations such as Afghanistan, Ireland and Nepal in a league of their own.
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Ashwin now has 193 wickets in similar number of matches.
