There was no effort to get a super sopper: Gavaskar

The apathy shown by those in charge of the Queens Park Oval meant that despite hot bright sunny days there was no play possible after the first day in the Trinidad Test.

The downpour that came just around lunch on day one washed out the rest of that days play but while that was understandable it was unacceptable for a Test match venue not to be able to do enough to get the game going on the rest of the days when there was plenty of sunshine.

One would have understood a delayed start on day two but even that didn't happen as there was no super sopper or enough covers or for that matter enough ground staff (only 6 people) to help get the ground ready for action.

What was disappointing was that despite what had happened on first two days there was no effort to get a super sopper or more covers for the remaining days.

The only people who have lost money is the TV channel that bought the rights and they have every right to demand answers for why there was so much indifference and apathy shown in getting the game started.

The other party that lost out was the Indian team who had the chance to stay at the number one ranking if they were able to beat the West Indies in the final Test too. With no play happening they lost the ranking to Pakistan who came back brilliantly after losing the second and third Test to win the final Test and level the series.

In Sri Lanka the Australians have managed to salvage something by winning the first one-day game. Mitchell Starc who had missed a great deal of action prior to this tour became the fastest to capture 100 ODI wickets and was instrumental along with James Faulkner in getting Australia to a winning start. Faulkner was the man of the match for his efforts in the first game.

The Lankans hit back by winning the second game with their new batting star Kusal Mendis getting a half century to add to the one he had got in the first game too. Here is a batsman worth keeping an eye for the future as he looks at home in Test cricket as well as limited overs cricket. The two senior pros, skipper Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal are also making their regular contributions in the middle order and helping the Lankans put up good scores.

The Durban game also suffered the same fate as the one in Trinidad with rains playing spoilsport. There were reports suggesting that both venues have been marked by the match referees and the ICC has set up a committee to investigate why there could be no play possible.

James Faulkner for his bowling efforts just pips Mendis, Chandimal and his own team mate Starc to be the CEAT International Cricketer of the Week.

Source: PMG

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