Antigua and Barbuda will host four matches during South Africa’s tour of the West Indies next month after the country was originally excluded as a venue because of the one-year ban imposed on the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground (SVRCG) following the ill-fated 10-ball Test match against England last year.
The disclosure was made in release by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday in which it announced the new schedule for the upcoming Digicel Series between West Indies and South Africa from 19 May to 30 June.
The changes show the two T20 Internationals and the first two One-Day Internationals (ODI) switched from Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad to the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
This became necessary after the announcement of General Elections in Trinidad & Tobago, slated for 24 May.
With Trinidad & Tobago going to a snap general election on 24 May, the WICB took the decision to switch the venue for the T20Is on 19 and 20 May and the ODIs slated for 23 & 25 May.
The decision to switch the matches from Trinidad & Tobago to Antigua also came after a full inspection of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was conducted by the International Cricket Council earlier this week and the venue has been given full clearance to host international cricket again.
Jeff Crowe, the International Cricket Council’s match referee tasked with the responsibility of clearing the venue to host international matches again, led a team of officials in inspecting the facility at North Sound in Antigua.
Crowe expressed satisfaction with outfield, the growing of the grass and the drainage and completed his inspection the following day when some Antiguan bowlers use the run-ups which were the most-troubled spots last year.
WICB officials – Tony Howard, chief cricket operations officer, and Roland Holder, cricket operations officer – accompanied Crowe.
Antiguan officials included John Maginley, the minister who has had responsibility for the stadium’s development since Cricket World Cup 2007, Enoch Lewis, president of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association and a WICB director, Gregory Shillingford, president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, legendary West Indies pacer
Andy Roberts, Zorol Barthley, chairman of the Sir Vivian Richards stadium board, Leon ‘Kuma’ Rodney, a VP of the ABC A and a member of the SVRS board, ex-West Indies B team pacer Anthony Merrick, the head groundsman, and accountant Avondale Thomas, a WICB external auditor.
The late resurfacing of the outfield in 2008 which hampered the growth of grass in a sand-based soil were the reasons for unplayable conditions.
Now, 14 months later, and after extensive use, Crowe said the ground is feeling firm. The announcement made by the WICB yesterday will be welcomed by all cricket loving fans in Antigua and Barbuda since the twin-island state will miss out on hosting matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament which will bowl off in the West Indies on Friday.
During South Africa’s tour of the Caribbean, the Africans will be playing two T20 Internationals, five ODIs and three Test matches against the West Indies.
