ICC rates Windsor Park surface used for first India-West Indies Test as 'average'

The surface that was prepared for the first Test between West Indies and India in Dominica in July has been rated “average” by the International Cricket Council (ICC). India started off their tour of the Caribbean and the United States with an innings and 141-run victory at the Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica. The Rohit Sharma-led side would wrap up the match inside three days, dismissing the Windies for scores of 150 and 130 while declaring on 421/5. Jeff Crowe, the match referee for the Test, had initially given a “below average” rating for the track which would have seen the venue receive a demerit point. While Cricket West Indies (CWI) would have had the option to appeal Crowe’s verdict in that case, it also would have had to explain to the ICC regarding the sub-standard of the pitch. The pitch was slow and assisted spin, as batting first the hosts were bundled for 150 with Ravichandran Ashwin bagging a fifer while Ravindra Jadeja taking three. The visitors managed well with the bat, putting on 421 for the loss of five wickets, thanks to openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma scoring 171 and 103 respectively. However, the Men in Blue ran havoc with the ball again in the second innings, with Ashwin being even more effective, grabbing seven for 71, as they prevailed in the contest by an innings and 141 runs which ended within just three days. Also, the pitch for the second Test at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, has received an “average” rating, which ended in a rain-marred draw. With inputs from PTI