Antigua Abandonment recalls Sabina Park debacle

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, Feb 14 (worldsport7.blogspot.com/Reuters) - The decision to abandon the second test between West Indies and England is the second time officials in the Caribbean have been forced to call off a test because of ground conditions. Only 10 balls were bowled on the opening day at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium on Friday because the soft and sandy run-ups were too dangerous for the bowlers. England were seven for no wicket when play was abandoned. A new, re-arranged third test at the Antigua Recreation Ground will start on Sunday. In 1998 match officials abandoned the first test between West Indies and England at Sabina Park because of an unplayable pitch after the visiting batsmen were hit on the body several times in 10.1 overs. Signs the Kingston wicket was unfit for test cricket came in Courtney Walsh's first over when a delivery lifted abruptly and veered sharply into England captain Mike Atherton's body. Atherton soon fell, caught at gully by Sherwin Campbell, for two off Walsh. Mark Butcher followed for a duck after a ball from Walsh shot straight at his head and Nasser Hussain was caught for one off a Curtly Ambrose leg-cutter. West Indies skipper Brian Lara had already indicated he thought the pitch was too dangerous and, with England reeling at 17 for three, both captains agreed the teams should leave the field. Referee Barry Jarman of Australia then decided to suspend play after talking to the umpires and captains. Jamaican authorities, embarrassed by the storm of bad publicity prompted by the debacle, carried out rigorous tests with different types of soil on the square. Their efforts were eventually successful in producing a fast, true pitch and a lush outfield

Frustration At test match farce in Antigua

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, Feb 14 (worldsport7.blogspot.com/Reuters) - Players, officials and fans were left bemused and angered by the abandonment of the second test between West Indies and England on Friday after the pitch at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium proved unplayable. Sandy and loose run-ups were judged too dangerous for the bowlers and the match was abandoned after just 10 balls. Officials later decided to host the third test at the Antigua Recreation Ground -- the island's old test venue -- starting on Sunday with the series extended to five matches. While the meetings got underway to make that decision, England fans, some of whom had spent as much as 6,000 pounds ($8,670) on the journey to the Caribbean island for the game and a vacation, trudged out of the ground despondently. "It should have been inspected last week shouldn't it? It is a disaster for Antigua because people won't come back -- people aren't going to come if there isn't going to be cricket. I don't know what the problem is," said England fan Anthony Goldsmid. "In the crowd we weren't given any information -- just loud music. People only found out by ringing home and being told what was going on by people watching television. I wouldn't come back here -- not for the cricket anyway," he said. England captain Andrew Strauss, who had a brief bat in the middle, said the players were spending time chatting with the fans and that they sympathised with their situation. DISAPPOINTED FANS "It's terrible, and no one feels worse for the spectators than we do and they have every right to feel disappointed just as we do. We are trying to do everything we can to mingle with them but the game of cricket doesn't need this," he said. England were desperate to play after suffering a humiliating defeat in the first test in Jamaica last week when they lost by an innings and 23 runs after being skittled for 51. Former England captain Ian Botham was scathing in his assessment of the conditions at the Sir Viv Richards ground. "This is shambolic, it's a joke and it is a beach. Why the players agreed to play here is beyond me," he said. "It is beyond a joke. They've got a real problem here as the only supporters here are from England," he said referring to the low turnout of Antiguan fans at the ground which was opened two years ago. West Indies team manager Omar Khan said their physiotherapist had warned the West Indies Cricket Board about the dangers of the run-ups on Thursday and said he had feared the worst. "We came to play cricket this morning and whatever happened, happened. We were concerned with the outfield and had our doubts over whether it would last the whole five days," he said.

Bangladesh upset Sri Lanka

Khulna, Feb 13 (worldsport7.blogspot.com) - Bangladesh women cricketers upset Sri Lanka by six wickets Friday in Grameenphone Women's Cricket Series. After sending them to bat first, Bangladeshi bowlers skittled the Lankans ot for 67 in 23.2 overs at Khulna's Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Divisional Stadium. In reply, Bangladesh raced to 71 losing four wickets in 31.3 overs. "We all have played well and clinched the match," Bangladesh captain Salma said after the match. After their third consecutive triumph, once against Bangladesh and twice against Pakistan, Sri Lanka have already moved into the final of the tri-nation series. Bangladeshi bowler Shamima Akter was adjudged the player of the match for her three wickets. Ayesha scored the highest 24, while captain Salma was unbeaten on 22. "Bangladesh's victory against us is a proof that the country is improving," Sri Lanka captain Shashikala said. Bangladesh now need a win against Pakistan to move into the final.