Another day lost to wet outfield, weather

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Ground staff use a blower to dry the field under the supervision of umpire Gregory Brathwaite (4L) during day 3 of the 4th and final Test between West Indies and India at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad on August 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Randy BROOKS

West Indies v India, 4th Test

Surreal scenes of an outfield being dug up during a Test match were not enough to dry Queen’s Park Oval enough for any cricket on day three. For the second day in a row, not a single ball was bowled despite there being bright sunshine in the first half of the day. The ground staff dug up parts of the outfield to perhaps try to aerate it, but more rain around noon frustrated everyone further. There was no super sopper to assist the ground staff.

Ground staff use a blower to dry the field under the supervision of umpire Gregory Brathwaite (4L) during day 3 of the 4th and final Test between West Indies and India at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad on August 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Randy BROOKS
Ground staff use a blower to dry the field under the supervision of umpire Gregory Brathwaite (4L) during day 3 of the 4th and final Test between West Indies and India at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad on August 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Randy BROOKS

With only 22 overs possible on the first two days and given the facilities available at Queen’s Park Oval, a result was extremely unlikely. India needed to win this Test to retain their No. 1 Test ranking and not lose it to Pakistan. West Indies were 62 for 2 after 22 overs, all bowled in the first session on the first morning. (ESPNcricinfo)

Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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