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Second test antigua;w indies v england
- Thread starter the viscount
- Start date
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
They are talking about re-turfing the run ups now... as the St John's ground is apparently not fit to play on.
re-turfing wont work as the grass wont of had time to root into the base beneath so there wont be any strength. Thus the turf will rip up just as bad as the Sandy outfield at present.
Only option is to move it to another nearby ground or back-to-back tests at Barbados.
Shropshire Seagull
Well-known member
And for all those thousadns who have spent a kings ransom to see 5 days cricket in paradise as their annual holiday.
What, and have a 4 day test match which hasn't been affected by the weather... Unless they add on an extra day that cannot happen.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
The only local option is the Stanford ground, as St John's isn't fit to play on.
I'd got for back to back Barbados tests... give up on this one, cancel the 2 day warm up match and play 2 tests with a couple of days gap in between.
Blimey
see that wont work, different fast bowlers have different run up styles, some start wide others narrow, what if he wants to go round the wicket? The groundsman is wasting his time IMO digging up that small strip, they need to do the whole lot and even then it wont be much better.
Is the right answer.
sten_super
Brain Surgeon
It's absolutely outrageous; the WICB couldn't organise the proverbial piss up in a brewery. They make the ECB look positively competent.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
And PAXTON DAZO has gone there
they've got over 300 beaches apparently.. so that'll be ok
ROSM
Well-known member
the viscount
New member
- Thread starter
- #95
No go for back to back test's at Barbados as there is not enough hotel rooms for the thousands of England fans out there and still going out there this was brought up on the radio a while back so i see this as a no go.
WHY not play this test in the hotel with one of those cricket games we all have some were at lest it won't get f ked up by the weather and incompetent officials,
WHY not play this test in the hotel with one of those cricket games we all have some were at lest it won't get f ked up by the weather and incompetent officials,
Storer68
New member
Sand stops play
Posted 19 minutes ago in England in West Indies 2008-09
Ten balls. That was the sum of the first day's play between West Indies and England in Antigua owing to an unfit, sandy outfield which was eventually deemed too "dangerous" for play. As they scrabble to find a solution, or a replacement venue, we will be keeping this updated as events unfold in the Caribbean
"The game of cricket doesn’t need this," said Andrew Strauss. The England players came down and spent quite a while with the supporters, signing autographs and chatting. And, in some cases, keeping the spectators informed of what was happening. Not ideal.
1pm Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket, handed a letter to Alan Hurst last night. "We did have concerns about it and I wrote a letter to that effect last night and handed to Alan Hurst. Pointing out that we had serious concerns about the outfield, especially the run-ups."
"This is like the long-jump pit at the school athletic day," spits Bob Willis who is currently and emphatically in his element. It's worth adding that for the poor, touring England supporters, it's unlikely they'll be able to get the Test ready before Monday or Tuesday if they relocate to the old Recreation Ground. And Tuesday, of course, is when this Test should have ended...
"The Stanford ground isn't an option because the pitch hasn't been tendered since November," Andrew notes.
The West Indies' physio emailed the board's CEO, Donald Peters, yesterday with his concerns about the outfield according to Andrew. And we've heard England's physio was similarly unimpressed too. Alastair Cook, speaking to Sky, was disappointed yet unsurprised.
"They have dug a trench at the North End and it's like a sandpit underneath," comments Andrew McGlashan. "They are going to try and re-lay the bowlers' run-ups; the match referee is currently at the ARG (Antigua Recreation Ground) inspecting those facilities."
12.45pm The press conference has taken place, Chris Gayle in attendance among others. We'll have news from our man in Antigua shortly.
The consensus at the moment is that England are dead-keen to get back into this series, but it seems implausible that it'll happen at this ground. The most logical solution would be to play at the old Recreation Ground, but they will need at least two or three days to prepare the pitch (let alone the outfield).
The second over
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
Rain stops play Oh dear, that's unfortunate. The shower is sweeping in, and we have a delay. Hopefully it is only a brief interlude. Gnasher, our man on the ground, claims he can see a kid building a sand-castle at fine leg. That's not a kid, it's Ian Bell, who's suddenly got a lot of time on his hands on this trip
1.2 Edwards to Strauss, 1 run, full and outside off stump, and worked into the leg side
Unfortunately, the groundstaff are hovering ... rain in the air
1.1 Edwards to Strauss, no run, good ball but poor shot. Full and just outside off stump. Strauss picks the wrong line, and the ball seems to pass the inside edge. That could have been a calamitous play-on
The first over
0.1 Taylor to Strauss, 2 runs, swinging onto the pads and tucked safely off the hip.
Taylor is already having problems with the run-ups. One aborted attempt, and then that delivery was bowled from in line with the stumps!
0.2 Taylor to Strauss, no run, full length, outside off stump this time, and met with a full face of the blade
Taylor is kicking up sand with every step to the crease. This is not good at all
0.3 Taylor to Strauss, 2 runs, a firm push down the ground, no give in the outfield for the runs either. This really is beach cricket
Which, on balance, possibly gives West Indies the advantage ...
Round the wicket for Taylor, but Strauss pulls out of his stance, which won't improve his early mood
0.4 Taylor to Strauss, no run, decent length, pushing Strauss back into the crease, and fended to gully
0.5 Taylor to Strauss, 1 run, overpitched outside off stump, and that's a handsome checked drive into the covers. Nash opts not to slide to field, which is very wise of him
0.6 Taylor to Cook, no run, down the leg side and half an appeal as Ramdin gathers, but umpire Harper gives that not out
Interesting that Harper is the man in the middle alongside Hill for this Test. The senior umpire, Rudi Koertzen, is on third umpire duty, presumably to prevent more referral farces ... we shall see. Here's Fidel Edwards
withdeanwombat
Well-known member
There must be somewhere to restage the game.
England only last three days anyway.
England only last three days anyway.
MidSussexSeagull
New member
- Nov 24, 2006
- 22
The test is restarting at 14:00 on Sunday at the Antigua Recreation Ground according to bbc.co.uk
the viscount
New member
- Thread starter
- #100
Yes now official re starts sunday at the rec ground should be very interesting indeed.
Must be so embarressing for the west indies board of control and money down the drain .
Must say loved the look of the grounds men on the pitch no hurry in what they were doing
Must be so embarressing for the west indies board of control and money down the drain .
Must say loved the look of the grounds men on the pitch no hurry in what they were doing