Barabati Stadium to host first Test in 21 years

India

BCCI president, Anurag Thakur, has assured the Odisha Cricket Association that Cuttack's Barabati Stadium will regain its status as a Test venue.

Despite the venue being the site of a delay in play due to crowd trouble following India's dismissal for 92 by South Africa in October 2015, it appears likely that it will be handed its first Test match in 21 years.

"We are almost through with the formalities and BCCI president Anurag Thakur has assured that Barabati Stadium will regain its Test status," Odisha Cricket Association secretary Asirbad Behera told PTI on Monday. "We have ticked all the boxes required for attaining Test status," he continued.

Behera was confident that the unfortunate disruption caused by water bottles being thrown onto the outfield in the afforementioned T20 International will not be repeated.

"The security arrangements will be beefed up and no water bottles will be allowed. But we still don't know whether we will get a match in the coming season or not," Behera said.

The last Test match hosted on the ground was the rain affected draw between India and New Zealand – a match that the visitors needed to win to salvage a draw in the three-match series.

Only two innings were completed in the match, with India needing two wickets to secure a 121-run lead.

Narendra Hirwani was the game's standout performer, the legspinner picking up six wickets in 31 overs.

The match is also significant for being Martin Crowe's final Test.

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