I am ashamed to have my name associated with this (ground), says Sir Viv Richards
I am ashamed to have my name associated with this (ground), says Sir Viv Richards
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The second Test will be recorded as an abandoned match with today's game to be considered as the third Test of what is now a five-match series.
Spare a thought however, for the man whose name adorns the ground.
Farce
Sir Viv, the former West Indies captain, watched the farce unfold right before his eyes from the air-conditioned comfort of the BBC Test Match Special commentary box.
A fiercely proud man, native of Antigua & Barbuda, and one who personified the excellence and greatness of the game, he was gutted by the shambles.
"This is an arrow right through my heart," he exclaimed on the BBC Radio. "This is not a shot in the foot for West Indies cricket. This is an arrow right through the heart. This is a huge pill to swallow."
Sandy outfield
The Test was abandoned after only 10 balls as England reached seven without loss, when match officials felt the sandy outfield particularly in the area of the bowlers' run-ups, were too dangerous to allow the sham to continue.
"I am ashamed to have my name associated with this," Richards said. "The members and officials of the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association should hang their he ads in shame.
"For these people to tell everyone that the ground was ready is a huge lie. They have been telling little porky pies. You can make excuses for certain people at times, but with so many experts around there can be no excuse.
He added: "The reputation of Antigua & Barbuda is in these people's hands. There are a lot of guys in the background who should have known better, that this ground wasn't ready."
There have been countless problems with the outfield at the VRCG which was constructed at a cost of over 20 million dollars with assistance from the Chinese Government ahead of the 2007 World Cup.
Poor drainage
Local knowledge indicates that it was built in a basin near a well-known water course, and this led to problems of poor drainage when rainfall collected on parts of the outfield. The Antigua & Barbuda Government promised remedial work would be done and it was with little success.
Several hours of playing time was lost in a Test against Australia last year, when a squall again invaded and reduced parts of the outfield to a swamp.
Though the sun shone and ground staff employed various measures to dry the surface, the damage was significant.
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