Antiguan Debacle

Friday, 13th February 2009

Just in case you had any doubts that cricket is the worst-run sport in the world, further proof comes from today's farce in Antigua. Even by cricket's lofty standards this is a disgraceful shambles. England were embarrassed in Jamaica; the entire sport is embarrassed by this nonsense. Ian Botham has just recommended moving the game to the Recreation Ground, arguing, quite correctly, that "you can't ignore the paying public". Except of course, ignoring the paying public is the game's administrators' standard operating procedure.

UPDATE: As ToryLion says, if the pitch is unsafe it's unsafe. Fair enough. But they have had weeks, if not months to sort this out. And it's not as though there aren't alternative arrangements that could have been made well in advance of today's debacle.

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Tory Lion

February 13th, 2009 3:52pm Report this comment

Alex, I think this is a bit of a harsh piece - if the pitch is unsafe for play, then it's unsafe.

What should have happened, was the pitch should have been inspected well before 1.4 overs into the game... That's where the argument sits.

Regarding the paying public - that's the risk they take. It's the same with pretty much every sport

THX1138

February 13th, 2009 4:11pm Report this comment

From way Back in the day when the Windies we're still thrashing us at the cricket.

This is Brilliant Calypso singer Lord Beginner's song called Victory Test Match

Penned to celebrate the Windies First Victory in England 2nd test in 1950

http://tinyurl.com/ap96q8

Enjoy.

egh

February 13th, 2009 5:10pm Report this comment

THX: Fiery Freddie? "England com', an' de West Indies Won!"? Only a nipper, I was....

Kevyn Bodman

February 13th, 2009 5:27pm Report this comment

I agree with Tory Lion's first two paragraphs, but not that 'the paying public-that's the risk they take'.
I think the paying public can reasonably expect that the venue of the match for which they have bought a ticket is fit for use.
This is not rain or bad light, which can't be controlled. This is an unsafe playing area and the stadium management and staff, and the cricket authorities have not done their job.

ndm

February 13th, 2009 5:36pm Report this comment

THX1138 - Thanks for that. I have the song on the excellent "London is the Place For Me: Trinidadian Calypso In London, 1950-1956" put out by Damon Albarn's Honest Jon Records. (Something good came out of all that Britpop.) The great Young Tiger's singing "I Was There (at the Coronation)" would probably bring a tear to the eyes of some of the older Telegraph readers - and a bit of a groove to the rest of us.

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