West Indies vs India 2023: ICC rates Windsor Park pitch for 1st Test 'average'

The match referee had initially given a ‘below average’ rating for the track

R. Ashwin (File) Ravichandran Ashwin (R) and Virat Kohli (L) celebrate the dismissal of Alzarri Joseph of West Indies on day one of the first Test at Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica | AFP

The International Cricket Council has come up with an "average" rating for the pitch at Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica, which hosted the opening Test between West Indies and India in July.

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 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 took 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 7 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.

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