India were in need of a win in the 4th Test against West Indies to retain their place at the top of the Test ranking, but rain poured cold water on their plans, and Pakistan jumped to the top.
Advertisement
The Port of Spain Test has also brought down curtains on what has been highly competitive and entertaining six weeks of Test cricket in four different parts of the globe which saw the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings top spot change hands three times inside five days.
“We will be able to assess ourselves as a side when we finish the whole season, so it’s fine”, the Indian captain added.
With a waterlogged outfield limiting play to just 22 overs before lunch on the first day, when the West Indies reached 62 for two, the tourists missed out on the opportunity to complete a 3-0 series triumph and solidify their position as the number-one team in the traditional format of the game. Personally, I expected this kind of series, not necessarily where I get two hundreds. We had come here looking to improve in a few areas and we have done that.
Simmons suggested that Test players were not making the necessary adjustments to their game from the regional level to the highest level.
“Rankings keep going up and down, you don’t play for rankings, but you obviously want to be a very strong side in the world, and that’s always been our aim, to be the best side in the world. We batted well in Jamaica, but went and did the same thing in the third Test we did in the first Test so for that, I think it’s disappointing we weren’t consistent enough”.
Pakistan’s next tours are to Australia and New Zealand; which provide a stern test for any would-be champions.
In 1998, the first Test of the series against England at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica lasted less than an hour before the umpires determined that the pitch was too unsafe for the English batsmen to face genuine fast bowling.
Advertisement
It is, indeed, to Misbah’s credit that even at the ripe age of 42, he is still in great form and is the fittest player in the side who continues to lead the Test team to glory. “Bowlers are taking responsibility, bowling to a plan and they are not selfish”, he said.
