Windies vs India: Sabina Park groundsman predicts a 3-day Test if hosts bat first

Windies is preparing to play the second Test of the two-match series against India at the Sabina Park ground in Kingston, Jamaica. The ground is known to have a pretty quick pitch which helps the quick bowlers get the advantage early on in the Test. Jason Holder’s men were almost embarrassed in the second innings in Antigua, as they were 50/9 at one stage having being set over 400 runs to win.

India eventually won the Test by 318 runs and gained 60 points in the newly minted ICC World Test championship. If Kohli and co. wins this Test as well, not only they continue their unbeaten run against Windies since 2002 in Tests, but also gain further 60 points in the championship and when the photo of the pitch for the game was shared on social media, experts and fans took a collective gasp.

‘A 3-day match if home-side bats first; 4-day game if India bats first’

The uncovered pitch was a green top one which had the fans and experts suggesting that Indian fast bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah will have a field day if India wins the toss and chooses to bowl first on the surface. “Right now, we are at around 60 percent with regards to preparation. I specifically requested that we maintain the heavy grass on the surface as this will help to bind the wicket together. I want to have a 60-40 percentage balance on this strip in favor of the batters; however, it will offer a lot of assistance to the bowlers as well,” Head curator of Sabina Park, Michael Hylton was quoted as saying by News 18.

However, former India player Aakash Chopra felt that it was another four-day Test on offering in Jamaica and shared his thoughts on Twitter with a message saying, “Another 4-day Test? #WIvIND”. This was in reply to statistician Rajneesh Gupta’s tweet which said, “Sabina Park’s pitch three hours before the toss….. should be good fun #WIvIND #INDvsWI #INDvWI”

Another 4-day Test? #WIvIND https://t.co/etLIN7cU2z

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 30, 2019

Gupta then replied to Chopra and revealed that the groundsman at the Sabina Park predicted a 3-day Test match if Windies bats first, but a 4-day one of India bats first on this green pitch. “The groundsman says three days if West Indies bat first…. four days if India bat first! #WIvIND”

The groundsman says three days if West Indies bat first…. four days if India bat first! #WIvIND https://t.co/xvWMsQXZtm

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 30, 2019