The second Test between West Indies and England ended inside three days and the Antigua pitch is now on the radar of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and might be subjected to some serious sanction after it played out unevenly during the course of the Test match. While the Windies scored 301 in their first innings, England were bowled out twice inside three days with scores of 187 and 132 respectively in their two innings. The Windies at the end won the match by 10 wickets in a match where the Englishmen were no match for the Carribeans.
England coach Trevor Bayliss has expressed his disappointment in the way the pitch played out. “It looked to me as if you had to be careful of the ball leaping off a length” said Bayliss.
As per the ICC rules, the pitch can be rated unfit to poor to below average in the manner it behaves during the five days of a Test match. An unfit pitch draws five points, poor three and an average one.
Meanwhile, WIndies skipper Jason Holder was suspended by the ICC for maintaining a slow-over rate throughout the second Test in Antigua. Kraigg Braithwaite will shoulder the responsibilities of captaincy after Holder was ruled out for the final Test. With two back to back wins, Holder and his men have already bagged the three-match Test series 2-0.
Both teams will play a five-match ODI series and a three-match T20I series after the conclusion of the Test series.
