By Neto Baptiste
The Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) will host its first cricket match since 2009, when the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) All Stars T20 Cricket Match bowls off at the historic venue on Saturday, starting at 2pm.
The ARG last hosted a match in February 2009 when it was used for the third Test between England and the West Indies after the second Test between the two teams was abandoned with only 10 balls bowled. This was due to an unfit outfield at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) and head of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the T20 World Cup, Leon Rodney, said the match will also provide crucial insight as to readiness of the playing surface with the ARG earmarked as a practice venue for the international tournament.
“Basically, it’s a testing process and it’s a discussion between different persons why we come up with that date and we want to invite people to come out and watch that game and the public will get all of the details of how you should enter the grounds and so forth come Saturday,” he said.
Two 13-man All Star teams have been selected to contest Saturday’s match with opener Michael Greaves set to lead the Sir Viv Richards East, and West Indies Under-19 and Leeward Islands wicketkeeper/bat, Jewel Andrew, set to lead the Sir Richie Richardson West.
“We’ve played the All Stars match on a number of occasions where you have the Sir Vivian Richards East vs the Sir Richie Richardson West and that match is on Saturday. It is being played at the ARG because there is a lot of preparation that will continue at the ARG so we have to work with the time that we have,” Rodney said.
Admission is free for Saturday’s match, which is scheduled to bowl off at 2pm.
Sir Viv Richards East: Michael Graves (Captain), Kadeem Henry, Emmanuel Lawrence, Hilroy Andrew, Karima Gore, Deran Benta, Glenton Williams, Jawakie Joseph, Yanique Watley, Orandel Boston, Bartlette Henry, Morton Browne, George Elvin, and (coach) Pernell Watley.
Sir Richie Richardson West: Jewel Andrew (Captain), Kofi James, Shane Burton, Tyrone Williams Jr, Nino Henry, Shavon Moore, Kadeem Josiah, Kerry Mentore, Essan Warner, Kief Baltimore, Jaeo Benjamin, Glen Williams, Micah McKenzie and (coach) Abdiel Hughes.
