W Indies v England | 2nd Test | Antigua | 13-17 Feb 09 | ABANDONED - Unsafe Outfield

[12thMan]

WI won the toss and elected to bowl

Shah and Anderson in - Bell and Harmisson out

England: Strauss, Cook, OA Shah, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, A Flintoff, MJ Prior, SCJ Broad, RJ Sidebottom, MS Panesar, JM Anderson

West Indies: Gayle, DS Smith, RR Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, BP Nash, RO Hinds, D Ramdin, JE Taylor, SJ Benn, DBL Powell, FH Edwards

Umpires: DJ Harper (Australia) and AL Hill (New Zealand)

England 6-0 after 1.2 overs

Rain delay but it can restart in 5-10 min

 

[Amjid Javed]

Glad to see Shah picked.

Also intresting W.I have made just 1 change.

 

[12thMan]

The outfield is too soft and sandy giving bowlers trouble.

10.40am Slow hand-clapping now, as this delay extends into its fifth minute. Strauss and Gayle are in deep discussion, just as Atherton and Lara were in 1997-98, and now the match referee, Alan Hurst, is on his way to the middle to join the deliberations.

Yet another aborted run-up, and Edwards flings the ball away in disgust. This is becoming a very serious issue indeed ... Edwards and Gayle are now in discussion with the umpires.

Shades of Sabina Park 1997-98 are in the air here. That was dangerous to batsmen, this is just hopeless for bowlers. There's nothing that Edwards can do about it. He is an elite athlete, who expects, at the very least, to be able to sprint to the crease without fearing that the ground beneath his ankle is going to give way beneath him

1.4 Edwards to Strauss, no run, pinged down, well wide of off stump. This is unsatisfactory, to be frank. There's nothing Edwards can do about it, but bundle to the crease and hope for the best

Another aborted run-up. Edwards grimaces as he gives up three yards short of the crease. He just can't get any balance

1.3 Edwards to Cook, 1 run, tucked away off the hip, and Cook is underway

Another aborted attempt at a run-up. Edwards finds his boots are sinking into the quicksand, and he pulls up short of the crease

 

[Gabbar Singh]

what a farce - likely to be abandoned now.

 

[12thMan]

10.42am I am beginning to fear that we are about to have our second aborted Test match. Sabina Park lasted 10.1 overs before the game was called off. This one is in serious danger of setting a new record.

10.45am Andrew McGlashan in the press box confirms the suspicion we are getting from the TV pictures. "The feeling is growing that this could be called off," he says. "Extraordinary scenes as a mid-pitch discussion decides the future of this match." Meanwhile, up in the commentary booth, Sir Viv himself is talking animatedly about the farcical scenes. This ground does not deserve to bear his great name.

Players are walking off the field now

Play abandoned for the day - Alan Hurst (match referee). They will see tomorrow maybe relocate

 

[Amjid Javed]

what a farce - likely to be abandoned now.

Trust this to happen again in the W.I!

1st Sabina park, now this!

 

[12thMan]

The audio link on windiescricket is not working for me. They usually have good commentary there. I am sure Viv Richards is there having some fun

 

[Oxy]

Whats going on?

Just tuned in! Match Abandoned!!!

WICB are a joke - make PCB look like a successful 'Blue Chip' multinational!

Sir Viv Richards must be doing his nut - his name being associated with such a farce.

 

[James]

Richards steaming on TMS. rightly so.
a test match should never be abandoned, ever. heads could and should roll.

let's hope 4 games can still be played in the series.

 

[MIG]

Pls explain - has the MATCH been abandoned? Surely the ground can be fixed?

 

[James]

I reckon they should cut their losses and reschedule for the time being. even if they managed to get some play in the next few days here it would feel rubbish and awkward. there must be somewhere else to play a fourth test on this tour.

 

[McBoom]

Pls explain - has the MATCH been abandoned? Surely the ground can be fixed?

Not if its over a beach.

They should redo the whole outfield, it will take some months but that is the only way to make this ground playable.

 

[12thMan]

This is a new ground (I think built for WC 2007). Then it was having water logging problem and now it is sand and after the change to the field no matches were played here (looks like no first class or even practice match) to test the ground.

 

[Oxy]

Sky Sports reporting that 'Play Abandoned for the Day' - but I cant see any play taking place on this track!!!

 

[Oxy]

Jeez!!!

There is no grass!!! Its all SAND!!! With a bit of green paint to hide it!

Never witnessed any thing like it.

Didnt anyone take a walk out on to the outfield yesterday, day before, week before...ever??

 

[Oxy]

Isnt there a 'Stanford' cricket ground in Antigua? Why not move it there?

 

[Amjid Javed]

why not just change the Red ball to a tennis ball and just continue with the game. Its like playing on the beach

 

[Lahoria]

Wow WI still have the worst grounds in the world by far, the outfields are painfully slow and pitches are almost always either really flat or uneven.

 

[OZGOD]

Someone's head has to roll for this surely.

 

[Big Harvey]

Isnt there a 'Stanford' cricket ground in Antigua? Why not move it there?

They've got a perfectly good, historic old ground in St. John's, which is where they used to host Test matches in Antigua until this white elephant (in the middle of nowhere that local fans won't go to) was built. Obviously it's a bit neglected now, but the ECB has asked for the game to be moved there, and it's being looked into. The officials are there now having a look at it, apparently.

There are thousands of English who have paid crazy amounts to be out there. What a complete and utter disgrace.

 

[IronMan2009]

Has this ever happened before including 1800s.

 

[Da Best]

Not impressed at all with how WI has been taking care of the grounds.

 

[Big Harvey]

Has this ever happened before including 1800s.

Yes, at Sabina Park in 1998. On that occasion it was the wicket that was dangerous, although once again it was the WICB who was to blame, and once again the travelling English fans who were left with a wasted journey.

 

[Oxy]

Slap in the face for Englash fans who spend all year planning their holidays around the test matches.

I know someone who has planned a tour to Antigua to fit in 2 days cricket as well as a cruise, and the dates were fixed to coincide with the cricket.

What a joke!

Economy will take a massive hit!

 

[OZGOD]

"Sand stops play" from cricinfo lol.

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/breakingnews/archives/2009/02/sand_stops_play.php

 

[OZGOD]

Yes, at Sabina Park in 1998. On that occasion it was the wicket that was dangerous, although once again it was the WICB who was to blame, and once again the travelling English fans who were left with a wasted journey.

I remember watching that Sabina Park match. That wicket was brutal. I was worried Ambrose and Walsh were going to kill someone. Thankfully the match was abandoned after 10 or so overs.

 

[OZGOD]

And more comical stuff from Sandgate:

This is utterly farcical. Out comes the match referee Alan Hurst to chat to the interested parties. I really don't see how they can resolve this situation. There is quite simply not enough grass on the outfield. That in itself is not necessarily a problem, but it becomes one when all the gaps are plugged with sand. I mean, what were they thinking? And if this Test is called off, will they replay it elsewhere? A mischievous thought: how about the Stanford Cricket Ground?

The third Test starts in Barbados on February 26, so surely there would be time to reschedule this game. But we're jumping the gun. As things stand, this Test has not been called off. How much longer we can say that is another matter, and the slow handclaps from the England spectators who have spent several hundred of their increasingly unvaluable pounds to be here tell their own story.

More farce: "Cricinfo's man on the spot reports that during the break the fire alarm in the press box went off. They couldn't turn it off because the instructions were all in Chinese," says Sunil X. Priceless.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/200...ngland-west-indies-second-test-lawrence-booth

)

 

[OZGOD]

Here's a look at the surface in Antigua.

 

[rhussain33]

I was looking forward to this test all week. Apparently it was dangerous for the players and cant play their natural game.

Yeah they where grinning about doing the test in stanfords ground which is suppose to be close, i wonder why, they mentioned he got issues with WI cricket board or something.

 

[12thMan]

I can't imagine what the tourists and spectators must be feeling but I am upset as I was ready to watch first session with no interuption as no one was going to be here at work during that time today.

More farce: "Cricinfo's man on the spot reports that during the break the fire alarm in the press box went off. They couldn't turn it off because the instructions were all in Chinese," says Sunil X. Priceless.

I remember some match before the WC and they were showing chinese workers (not local Chinese) busy building stadium for the WC

 

[OZGOD]

Just heard from a number of sources at the CC.com forum that the match is going to be moved to the ARG, to start on Sunday. They'll be working around the clock to get it in shape.

One of the things about the ARG is that one of the stands has been condemned due to being unsafe. Hopefully nobody forgets about that and lets people sit on it.

 

[Oxy]

OFFICIAL RESULT:

2ND TEST ABANDONED

3rd Test starts at the Antiguan Recreation Ground - Sunday 15th-19th Feb 2009

 

[Deewana Mastana]

2.15pm
Breaking news: the second Test will take place on Sunday at the Antigua Recreation Ground and it will be restarted, according to Sky Sports. Well, well, well.

Just read this on Cricinfo!

 

[Sufian84]

maybe allen SANDford can come to rescue?

 

[Deewana Mastana]

maybe allen SANDford can come to rescue?

Nah he demanded the WAGs again and this time the England players were

 

[Amjid Javed]

Atleast the test match will re-start in two days time, just feel sorry for those fans who have travelled and forked out for the match! what a farce!

 

[filosofee]

Whats going on?

Just tuned in! Match Abandoned!!!

WICB are a joke - make PCB look like a successful 'Blue Chip' multinational!

Sir Viv Richards must be doing his nut - his name being associated with such a farce.

)


I love your turn of phrase Oxy

 

[Oxy]

2.15pm
Breaking news: the second Test will take place on Sunday at the Antigua Recreation Ground and it will be restarted, according to Sky Sports. Well, well, well.

Just read this on Cricinfo!

2nd test goes down as ABANDONED.

The 3rd test will begin on Sunday

 

[Geordie Ahmed]

Its an absolute disgrace that this could happen - considering how much is at stake for a match to be abondoned over this is simply not on

The WICB need a good kick up the behind BUT the ICC shud be looked at aswell - why on earth is there no procedure on checking the pitches are in suitable conditions

I feel sorry for the people that have spent a lot of money on going to the cricket - as always incompetency from the top level shafts the average fan

 

[MIG]

2nd test goes down as ABANDONED.

The 3rd test will begin on Sunday

MCC will hold a meeting and award this test to England as well.....

 

[12thMan]

Is this the shortest test match now? 10 balls - 45 min includes rain stoppage and delays because of outfield

 

[Savak]

Indeed a unique incident. Sometimes we tend to criticize the PCB for the sake of it, no one can beat this incompetence. Heads definately need to role for this. If the WICB doesnt pick its socks up from here then its beyond help to be honest.

 

[JohnDTraynor]

Apparently, there are ridges in the pitch at the Recreation Ground.

 

[12thMan]

Senate committee should have a party arranged for this. I am hoping that WI senators are not available as I don't have much expectations from them and Pakistani ones can go there

 

[OZGOD]

Senate committee should have a party arranged for this. I am hoping that WI senators are not available as I don't have much expectations from them and Pakistani ones can go there

They will have to be senators from different countries then, because the WI isn't a country - it's a group of countries that band together for cricketing purposes.

 

[diondublin]

2nd test goes down as ABANDONED.

The 3rd test will begin on Sunday

Any amount of incompetence from our board doesn't surprise me anymore. Only positive is that it looks like we won't be loosing a test match as this series is now a 5 match series, I say looks because it won't surprise me if the ARG isn't ready by Sunday.

 

[Oxy]

Chris Gayle has expressed doubts about the ARG...

Gonna be 'fun & games' on Sunday!

 

[Poison]

Did nobody inspect the ground prior to the match?

 

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Viv Richards says he is ashamed

Link: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/wi-legend-viv-richards-says-he-is-ashamed/38276-13.html

West Indies cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards said he was ashamed to have his name associated with the stadium that saw the second Test between West Indies and England abandoned on Friday because of an unfit ground.

The game was abandoned only after 10 balls as England reached 7-0 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua when match officials elected to call play off for the day because the sandy, beach-like bowler's run-ups were dangerous.

Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor both looked angry as they struggled to gather any momentum in their run-ups.

"I am ashamed to have my name associated with this," Richards stormed while commentating for BBC Radio. "The members and officials of the Antiguan Cricket Association should hang their heads in shame.

"For these people to tell everyone that the ground was ready is a huge lie. They have been telling little porky pies. You can make excuses for certain people at times but with so many experts around there can be no excuse.

"The reputation of Antigua and Barbuda is in these people's hands. There are a lot of guys in the background who should have known better, that this ground wasn't ready.

"This is not a little festival match, this is a Test match. We have been given the responsibility to put on a Test match and we have let people down. It's an embarrassment," commented the legend.

 

[Oxy]

I surprised he wasnt more scathing in his comments.

Quite restrained by Sir Viv's standards! - although I imagine in private he's must have battered a few of the WICB officials!

 

[Amjid Javed]

The ARG still has football pitch markings on it and goal posts up! Its like a club cricket pitch!

Only relief might be the pitch may favour bowlers instead of the usual bowlers graveyard which has been seen down the years!

 

[12thMan]

Holding talking about WI cricket board - expects no one will resign or fired
http://content-wi.cricinfo.com/talk/content/multimedia/390707.html?alt=1;template=audioplayerv2