The India-New Zealand World Cup semi-final had to spill onto the reserve day.
Former India captain and legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out hard at England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the ground facilities it has provided at various stadiums during the ongoing World Cup in UK.
Gavaskar's words came against the tournament organisers after play in the India-New Zealand World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford couldn't resume because of persistent rains and lack of adequate measures to cover the whole ground. The officials were forced to spill the game onto reserve day.
"Nature has its own ways and that is not controllable by humans, so the rains washing out the game after New Zealand had almost completed its innings is understandable. What, however, is not understandable and acceptable is to see, once again, the ground partially covered against the rain," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Times of India.
"If the game couldn’t start after the rain had stopped in any other country, the British media would have had a field day having a go at the country, its ineptitude and questioned how a big event like the World Cup was given to that country."
On reserve day, the Black Caps pulled off a remarkable heist, defeating the pre-tournament favourites and table toppers by 18 runs to seal their place in the final.
"In Manchester, the part covers were taken off around five in the evening local time, but the water on the covers spilled onto the ground and a big puddle was formed."
"The supersopper came out but while the puddle was cleared, the wetness on that area meant the umpires were never going to restart the game in a hurry."
This edition of the World Cup has had the most number of washouts (4) in the history of the quadrennial event. "The drizzle came on again later, but if the entire ground had been covered, the game could have restarted and New Zealand’s remaining overs of the innings could have been completed in the interim. Instead, both the teams had to come out next day and try to recapture the rhythm of the game," Gavaskar stressed.
"It was unfair on both teams, for the Kiwis could have added 40 runs with Ross Taylor looking good in the remaining overs, or India could have restricted them to another 20 runs and the game could have been different. But who is going to question why the whole ground wasn’t covered?"
The great man also reckons standings towards the semi-final could well have been different if those games weren't abandoned due to rain.
"Many teams in the World Cup would have finished differently if their matches had not been washed out and couldn’t be played because the whole ground was not covered."
"Everybody knows how fickle the weather can be in England, and so if there is any country that should have full ground covers it should be England. But does it actually care about the fans? No wonder, cricket is fast losing out to other sports in England," he wrote.
Disappointed Gavaskar hoped for a full game in the second semi-final between England and Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday (July 11).
"Of course, things may change if England beat Australia in the semis at their fortress, the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham. This ground is the only venue in England which has full ground covers. The administration at Warwickshire is a forward-looking one with the terrific changes they have made to the ground. So despite the weather forecast suggesting rain, the game has better chances to start than at other grounds."
"England begin as favorites not only because of where they are playing but the way they have recovered after looking as if they could be out in the league stage itself. They have tremendous depth in their batting, but the biggest plus is their opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow," he concluded.