Antigua counts mixed blessings
| 11:06 UK time, Sunday, 15 February 2009
There is a saying here in Antigua that "every disappointment is a blessing".
Well, perhaps the rushed relocation of the Antigua Test match from the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to the Antigua Recreation Ground is a blessing in disguise.
The last 24 hours have certainly demonstrated what can be achieved when
I remember turning up at the ARG a week ago to watch England practise and being struck by the unique atmosphere of the old ground, even though some parts of it are well past their best.
Not for a moment did any of us imagine that a few days later we would be back at the ground to watch an impromptu Test match.
I mentioned in my blog on Friday that I hoped we would be able to bring to you on Sunday, but I could not be sure that our broadcast lines would be in place in time.
However, when I arrived at the stadium on Saturday morning I found out that the local telecommunications engineers had been working through the night to install our lines.
Our commentary box is at the back of the press box and it is fair to say it has seen better days, but when I arrived to take a look I was greeted by numerous locals who had been employed to clean, paint and repair the facilities so that broadcasts can be made in relative comfort.
More importantly, lots of people had also been working through the night to make the pitch and outfield as good as they possibly could be and to make sure the seating for the frustrated spectators would be safe come Sunday.
On Saturday evening, match referee Alan Hurst gave the stadium the go-ahead and we are told the first day at least will be a complete sell-out with the 8,000 England supporters expected to pack out the famous "double decker stand" and the grass verges, christened the "party stand" for this game.
We now have to hope for two things. Firstly, that the weather improves - there were torrential rain showers on Saturday afternoon and more rain is expected this week. The people here deserve good weather after the hard work they have put in.
Secondly, we hope the pitch holds up and that some of the predictions of a "lively surface" make for an exciting match rather than another farce. I know everyone has done what all can and the players from both sides have shown great understanding to get this fixture on.
Perhaps the reason the island has rallied so quickly to make this game possible is that many locals believe Test cricket is returning to its rightful home in Antigua.
It is not only the problems with the playing area at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium which have made the venue unpopular, it is also the fact that the ground is inaccessible to many Antiguans.
It is perhaps an exaggeration to say the new ground is in the middle of nowhere but talking to the people here, they want to watch their cricket in the heart of St John's and would have happily swapped the plush new stadium for a return to the Recreation Ground even before Friday's fiasco.
It now looks likely that a ground which had become more of a football stadium could against all the odds return as Antigua's main international cricket venue.
It certainly promises to be a special atmosphere when Test Match Special goes on the air at 1345 on Five Live Sports Extra and just before the start of play on Radio Four Long wave. As well as ball-by-ball commentary, we hope to hear from the West Indies Cricket Board about what lessons will be learnt from this difficult week.
You will also be able to hear our which we were due to play during lunch on Friday. Moores will be telling us his thoughts on his time with England and his hopes for his new job as head coach at Lancashire.
We'll be hearing from Martin Bodenham who, after time as a FIFA football referee, is about to begin work as a first class umpire. And we'll have a special report on cricketers from a Caribbean background in English cricket and ask why, after the success of the likes of Phil Defreitas, Alex Tudor, Devon Malcolm and Gladstone Small to name but four, so few players from the West Indian community seem to be breaking through in the English game.
Jonathan Agnew will, of course, be leading our team again with Christopher Martin Jenkins, Tony Cozier, Vic Marks, Geoff Boycott and - if he's calmed down yet - Sir Vivian Richards. Don't forget that after play each day you will be able to download the Test Match Special podcast.
Finally Aggers mentioned to me at breakfast that a thought had struck him in the middle of the night. Friday, the day of the 10-ball Test match, was of course also the day when the .
All our thoughts are obviously with his widow Debbie and his family. But Aggers said to me: "You know Bill would always delight in telling us he was born on the first day of the famous "timeless Test" -the longest ever match between England and South Africa in Durban in 1939 which lasted 10 days.
"Well," continued Aggers "it just had to be the case that Bill's funeral was held on the day of the shortest ever Test."
I think Bill would rather have liked that.
Comment number 1.
At 15th Feb 2009, *Syds_Sports wrote:Here's hoping for a good Test, untainted by controversy of any kind.
As for your comments about Bill - there's something poetic, not to say symmetrical, about that!
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Feb 2009, prettyipswichtiger wrote:Whilst it is obviously sad to have lost Bill I'm sure that is a fact that he will be so proud of informing people in the great commentary box in the sky.
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Comment number 3.
At 15th Feb 2009, dunston_xi wrote:After the complete mess of friday, i think the speed in which the windies have prepared the rec ground is a major credit to them self. So far its been a good days cricket and its nice not to be talking about problems with the batting order or the state of the pitch,
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Comment number 4.
At 15th Feb 2009, Damien Cahill wrote:Um... pressed my Red button on my TV this evening, and it says that "due to contractual issues we regret that we are unable to offer the scorecard"
What happened??
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Comment number 5.
At 16th Feb 2009, hunter53 wrote:I said before this match it was time for Flintoff to go. Was I right?
He is living on past glories.
He cannot bowl for any length of time - can anyone remember his last 5 or more wicket innings?
His batting is extremely moderate - can anyone remember his last century?
Can anyone remember the last time he gave a match winning performance?
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Comment number 6.
At 17th Feb 2009, MickGatting wrote:Mixed blessings indeed!
And divine inspiration showing a respectful hand of fate.........
I am sure that in the next dimension, Bill is telling all the cricket lovers that he was born on the first day of the only 10 day Test and was buried on the first day of the only 10 ball Test
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Comment number 7.
At 17th Feb 2009, snufkin67 wrote:Isn't it interesting that despite all the doom-mongers, the ARG pitch turned out to be just fine?
I'm reminded of what happened in Formula One a few years back when the team engineers were no longer allowed to work on the cars between qualifying and the race. Dire predictions of a precipitous drop in reliablity were flying round the pit lane. In fact, reliablity went up, cos the engineers weren't just fiddling with the cars for the sake of it anymore...
Could the same be true of pitches and groundsmen?
Mischievous I know, but...
Tim
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Comment number 8.
At 17th Feb 2009, pyattl01 wrote:in reply to hunter53- i dont think any of the current england bowling outfit can say they are performing-anderson is awful harmison is the worse excuse for a test bowler at the moment it makes me mad that he is in the side. Broad and flintoff both look the more likely to take wickets at the moment. Swann is finally getting the chance he deserves-vastly under rated and whilst bowling well deserves his place- i would seriously consider picking hoggard
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Comment number 9.
At 18th Feb 2009, L A Odicean wrote:Thank heavens ( and what luck), that this pitch has held up long enough to give us a Test match.
Pictures of the markings of a football pitch across the wicket are an poignant but pertinent symbol of how other sports have encroached into the world of cricket to present a very real threat to the form of the game that many of us still believe to be the purest and most enthralling.
The chaos at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and the obscenity of the 20 million dollar match, have revealed how the governing bodies of the game throughout the world are in danger of bringing the game into disrepute at a time when they need to be doing all they can to enhance the reputation of this wonderful sport.
Until those responsible are removed for the simple failure to do the homework on such matters, things can only go from terrible to worse.
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Comment number 10.
At 19th Feb 2009, L A Odicean wrote:Why oh why can the cricket world not see that for all his flamboyance, Sir Allan Standforth had the best interests of cricket in mind when he poured all that money into the game? Yes, it was remiss of those who trusted him enough to let their wives sit on his lap, but that has nothing to do with making sure of the financial security of the game.
It's about time that the cricket lovers of this world took off their rose tainted spectacles and faced facts. What the game needs is cash, hard cash, no matter whence it comes, nor even where it comes from.
Standforth has now disappeared in high dudgeon, and probably will never land his helicopter on the square at Lords again. It's a disgrace.
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Comment number 11.
At 19th Feb 2009, ginnerchris wrote:Can't see a reply to damodmc (No 4): - Anyone know what these contractual reasons are, or if there's anything on the website somewhere to explain it. Will it be back up for the next test?
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Comment number 12.
At 19th Feb 2009, rpcb61 wrote:Why cant we see the score cards on the red button. If there were contractual issues normally we get it on the red button but not the internet. whats going on Adam?
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Comment number 13.
At 19th Feb 2009, LeightonSailor wrote:Well, as usual in cricket after five days of pretty good play, two old farts decide not to let the game finish.
The spinners are on, (in club cricket they're no faster and still bowling at 9.00pm) and they offer the light while the spectators are still sunning themselves.
Makes it all not worth watching.
How can you ever take cricket as a serious sport when this nonsense is allowed.
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