ST JOHN’S, Feb 14: Players, fans, media personnel, and concessionaires all had reason to bemoan the abandonment of the second Test between the West Indies and England on Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Spare a thought, however, for the man whose name adorns the ground.

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,” Richards 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.”

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 added. “The members and officials of the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association should hang their heads 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.”—AFP