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Lets hope that theres a fantastic match at the ARG

As a fellow West Indian, I totally understand what Sir Viv must be feeling. After the euphoria of the 1st test victory, cricket fans around the world saw what we Windies fans knew for years: the absolute incompetence of the WICB.
I felt so ashamed and embarrassed even more so because I'm studying in England...went to the bar after Uni to watch the match...only to be utterly shocked.....I didn't know what to say to my English friends except welcome to WICB Horrorshow and try not to turn a deeper shade of red...utter Madeness but sadly has the stamp of the shennanigans of the WICB...hope the ARG will be ready in time.
And the sad thing is....it can only get worse from here...seems like Windies cricket can never change for the better b/c we end up shooting ourselves in the foot someway or the other.

I was listening to TMS at the time and yould hear the emotion and bitter disappointment in SIVAR's voice.

The world NEEDS a good West Indian cricket team and there's been some really good signs over the last few series. Australia really struggled to a victory over here when everyone thought it would be a walkover - a performance the Islands could be proud of.

Then the Stanford, which, however you feel about it, was the sort of thing they probably needed to get a few fresh faces at the grounds.

Then a superb performace to show us up in the first test - some wonderful bowling and unusually obdurate batting from the top order.

Then this - it's just really sad. Hope it all sorts itself out.... i know people have spent money to get out there and watch cricket, but i'd rather be on holiday in Antigua than here in rainy, cold West Wales about to watch my rugby team lose...!

However it's flown, there MUST have been senior people out there who knew the TM was never going to happen on that ground - so did they all become ostriches who believe in fairies, or were they waiting for the mythical 'somebody else' to make a decision??

Anyway, Adam, I assume that your line 'Hopefully our broadcast lines can be installed in time for the start of the game!' was typed in jest!! it's been a c*ck-up so far, no TMS at the ARG would just about finish me!

My rich brother has just told me he's flying to Barbados at the beginning of March to catch a couple of the one-dayers, Iwant to strangle him.

I've played for two clubs at a quite low level.
At both clubs, the pitch preparation started on Monday evening, with work being done continually up to the Saturday afternoon.
Some of the pitches,even when lovingly prepared, were real terrors, and others didn't really last the sunday afternoon match held on it as well. How on earth are they going to prepare a five day pitch with 2 days preparation, then ? What if the pitch is as bad as the 1998 Jamaica one ? Another go at the Stanford Stadium ? . I'd never heard of Antigua before Richards and Roberts appeared on the cricket scene. I don't think that the words 'Antigua' and 'test match' will appear in the same sentence ever again.

I think all Antiguans (and Caribbean people) and those of the cricketing world have a right to be angry at this show of incompetence.

The fact that an abandon test match has happened twice in the Caribbean is a down right shame. Have there not been any lessons learnt from the past that we had to come in the present to have a repeat of what I see as a lackadaisical approach to field preparation? Do we know that such blunders makes the international community wonder if we are ready or ever be ready to rise to the occasion of first world status. A match of such international acclaim should not be abandoned for something like poor field preparation. If it was an act of terror I could understand. If it was a hurricane or bad weather I could understand. IF it was a bunch of naked women psychologically impacting player performance I could understand. But this...I DO NOT EVEN WANT TO UNDERSTAND.!!! SHAME ON YOU ANTIGUA MANAGEMENT

the W.I. Cricket board is to blame for this. The buck stops with them. What an incompetent set of Morons. THey get nothing right!

Hats off to Sir Viv - Despite all the reports about how angry he was - I heard him speak and despite the painful humiliation and anger he must have been feeling I think he maintained self control admirably! I bet someone copped his full blast well away from the mikes and cameras though! Certainly hope so ......

#4 - those ostriches have plenty of sand to bury their heads in i suppose.

this shambles might well be an indication of why the windies have been in decline for so long as a test nation. its very very annoying and sad for cricket lovers...and we cant even beat them!

I was in Antigua last month visiting friends who live near the new stadium. We were all looking forward to the Test Match so much. If we'd known about the outfield, we'd all I'm sure have volunteered our labour to do some re-turfing.

It would be a pity if test cricket was never played again at the stadium, it really is quite a structure in a small landscape, rather like a movie digital effect. Much work went into it, clearly, and Antiguans feel much pride in being able to host international cricket there, and its connection with the great Sir Viv.

However, many of us do have a lingering affection for the ARG and its wonderful atmosphere, so good luck to all who are no doubt beavering away right now to get it ready for tomorrow, and of course to the TMS crew as they find plugs for all their bits and pieces!

I'm SOOOO looking forward to five days of good cricket from Antigua, and hopefully some comments on the general election campaign!

If you think that Barbados will be any better don't hold your breath. Incompetence, nepotism and political back scratching is rife throughout the Carribean. The ownership of Kensington oval is now a political football between the goverment and the Barbados cricket Association. The West Indies as a unified entity is a pipe dream. Denigration of fellow West Indians is not uncommon in the media of indiviual countries with many feeling they owe more alligiance to Africa than to each other.

I feel so sorry for Sir Viv and all the good people of Antigua who surely deserves better - they know their country better than the administrators and the outside consultants used in constructing the stadium. Better to have spent the money on improving the ARG which has more atmosphere in one hour's play as opposed to a full 5 days at the new ground.
Hopefully we'll get some cricket at the ARG.

The WICB are wholly responsible for this farce. Whoever authorised building an out of town venue on the course of a river needs theri head examined. As for the efforts to get the Sir Viv outfield ready, they were simply a joke.

Thank goodness cricket has returned to the ARG, its spiritual home in Antigua. And may it please now stay there for good. Consign the Sir Viv for football or concerts and leave the ARG, with a few stands redeveloped, as the proper home of Antiguan cricket.

I'm afraid this farce has to have been avoidable, as mentioned

"It was only the second time in Test history that a match was abandoned on the opening day. Back in 1998, the Jamaica Test lasted 10.1 overs"

Once you might let the board off with, second time should have resulted in forfeiture. I'd rather see some cricket, so would everyone including the specators, but how else do you deal with such unacceptable occurences? Like the Pakistan team refusing to return to the field of play, there should be and can only be one penalty - to forfeit the match.

TWICE this has happened in the same Test playing nation, not even a Test nation with non-cricketing influences come distractions that could be used as an excuse as there may be in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Not a new nation finding it's feet and inexperienced, although one does have to question the board decisions regards the stadium itself and the financial situation.

At the very least the West Indies board should face a huge fine, but it begs serious questions and not too many months down the line from the West Indies hosting the World Cup which in itself was a little bit of a farce the way it was 'managed'. I'll stop short of blaming them for the Stanford farce, but it seems to be one too many incidents/issues in recent times

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I always love Viv Richards' comments on TMS. He has a distinct and inimitable way of expressing himself. His unique syntax and unusual use of the conditional tense does not detract from the passion he feels for the game, and it was rather poignant when all this came together as events unfolded at the ground which bears this particular individual's name.

I hope that, if the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium closes for cricket, his name will be transfered to the next venue.

I meant 'transferred'.

Sir Vivian, and several other senior West Indian Cricketers are the 'detractors' of the current West Indies cricket 'management'. I wonder if the lack of preparation of the ground bearing his name was a stupid childish 'spat' from those that the senior players are constantly criticising? If so it is time for a change of management, most cricket management all over the world, obtains its heirarchy from disingenous who believe it is a 'right of passage.