|
2nd Test Antigua
|
We flew to Antigua to stay at the Hawksbill Resort with an idyllic setting and as much food as we could eat and as much alcohol as we could drink: endless Chilean quality wines, many delicious cocktails, beers, spirits, including courvoisier brandy by the bottle full. It was a great feeling to go over to the new Sir Vivian Richards Test Ground built with Chinese money, standing in its own surroundings out in the countryside.
What we didn’t know was that the pitch was built on a sandy soil and there were problems underfoot. The design meant that the grass near the main stand never saw direct sunlight, so the grass was set before the stand was built. The heavy lifting gear used to build the stand was placed on the ground and had shattered the drainage pipes beneath, and the planned reconstruction in autumn 2008 found so many problems that the contractors asked for extra time to complete the work. This had been refused by the Antiguan government because the ground was required for a concert at Christmas.
The run-ups to the wicket had been kept in pristine condition for the test and no-one had tried them out before the first ball was bowled. The ICC responsible for checking that the ground was properly prepared only turned up the night before for the duration of the test. It was suspected by all concerned that the pitch would be unfit, but no-one said anything in public.
It was a disaster waiting to happen...
 The hotel beach from the dining room |
 The beach from our room |
 Edna, the maid |
 our beach with the hawksbill rock in the centre |
 David swimming in the Caribbean |
 David with the first of many cocktails which are included in the cost. |
 Ready for the second test at the new Vivian Richards Stadium as Botham and Gower prepare for Sky TV |
 Everything is ready for the match |
 The West Indies take the field with the England batsmen |
 Rain stops play after a few balls |
 Soon ready to resume |
 Then the play is abandoned with only 10 balls bowled! |
 Bob Taylor speaks to Derek Pringle to find out what is happening |
 The problem appears to be with the bowler's run up which is like a sandy beach |
 Even an attempt to relay the run up over the sandy soil cannot save the game |
 Kevin Pietersen speaks to the crowd, Perhaps the game will restart at the old Recreation Ground ... |
PERSONAL HOME PAGE | Family | Life | Photos | Music | Whisky | Links | ACADEMIC HOME PAGE