|
|
Runs and rain
Wisden CricInfo staff - April 10, 2002
India could not have asked for an easier initiation into the five-Test series against West Indies. Georgetown has seen a preponderance of drawn matches – 15 out of 27 Tests here have ended in a stalemate. Of the 12 Tests which finished conclusively, West Indies have won seven. India's five matches here have all ended in draws.
On 23 out of 27 occasions, the captain winning the toss has elected to bat. India have won the toss thrice in five matches, and have chosen to bat twice.
The runs-per-wicket average at Bourda are: 1st innings – 35.4; 2nd innings – 36.6, 3rd innings – 30.6; 4th innings – 43.6.
Both seamers and spinners have struggled for wickets. Out of 691 wickets taken here, pacers have accounted for 410, at an average of 34.5, and a strike-rate of 74.9. Spinners have scalped 281 wickets at 37.4, with a strike-rate of 95.6 – that's a wicket every 16 overs.
West Indian spinners have enjoyed more success than the pacemen against India at this venue. The pacers have toiled 305 overs for a mere 14 wickets at an average of 55 and an incredibly high strike-rate of 130.8. The 19 wickets for West Indies's spinners have come a relatively lower 43.1.
Sunil Gavaskar's 147* in 1982-83 and 116 in 1970-71 are the only two instances of Indian batsmen scoring centuries at Georgetown. West Indian batsmen have scored five centuries against India here, Richie Richardson's 194 in 1988-89 being the highest.
The last three India-West Indies Tests at Georgetown have all been severely affected by the weather. An average of 200 overs have been bowled per match, which amounts to just over two days of cricket out of five. Play has been completely washed out on seven days. The weather and the benign pitch points towards a draw as the most likely result in the first Test of this series.
S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com India.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
|
|
|
