It took just one hour on the morning of the fourth day for umpires Nigel Llong and Rod Tucker to ascertain that no play was going to be possible for the rest of the day. As has been the case, for the third successive day, play at the Queen’s Park Oval had to be called off. India Head Coach Anil Kumble and West Indies coach Phil Simmons were present in the morning to take stock of the situation and the umpires consulted the duo before arriving at the decision.
The sun was once beating down like it did on Saturday, but still wet patches on the ground and the run-up area filled with soggy spots, there was little hope of any play on Sunday. Expecting a similar outcome, the two teams preferred to spend time in the hotel as the umpires conducted their first and only inspection at 10.00 AM. On the third day, the ground staff had dug up parts of the outfield but even the unusual practice did not bring any favourable result.
With just the final day’s play left, draw is the only outcome that seems possible in the final Test of the four-match Test series, which India leads 2-0. Since the first day, only 22 overs have been bowled with West Indies making 62/2.
