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    The sterile, lifeless World Cup

    By Will last year, at the start of April Leave a comment on this post

    Or, rather, the lifeless Antigua Recreation Ground. A passionate, albeit depressing piece from Mike Selvey:

    It has gone now. Rather than plough strong investment into upgrading the ARG sympathetically, to preserve cricket’s integrity here, Chinese money, grabbed eagerly, has produced the new stadium out of town. Of its kind it is a fine facility and a fitting monument to the greatest batsman of the modern era. But what of the other heroes? It has a north end and a south end, as bland as that. Where is the character? Where is the recognition of Antigua’s cricket heritage immortalised in calypso: Richie Richardson (”Who is dat man flashin’ blade in de han’?”), Ambrose (”He mek de batsman shiver when he run up to deliver”) and Andy Roberts? The stands named after Richardson and Roberts still look down on the field set up for net practice.

    This still should be their epitaph. Instead Antigua has a white elephant that will see, if it is lucky, one Test match a year and little else. There is talk of enticing baseball teams down from the States. That is the legacy that the World Cup could leave on the island. Baseball. I shut my eyes once more, feel the vibes and want to weep.

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    9 Responses to “The sterile, lifeless World Cup”

  • Graham E Smith wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 12.43 pm

    For an Island the size of Antigua….population less than 100,000, to have a stadium at all is quite remarkable….and only one test match a year????
    I weep for you….in exasperation….over here in England we have Cities …..population over 250,000
    fighting for a chance to host a test match….and never getting one.
    And as for the Americans playing baseball in your Stadium…..why not….it might bring a few more jobs to your island….for the people who need them.
    Believe it or not……there are more important things on this planet than Cricket.

  • Wraye wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 1.00 pm

    I have just found a fruit fly in my glass of Chardonnay, ruining the taste. Had to throw the whole glass away.

    I blame the ICC.

  • pod wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 4.13 pm

    While it is all very well to keep cribbing about the “lack of history” and the “bland nature” of the grounds, one has got to move beyond sentimentality and also judge what is best for the countries in the caribbean themselves. They have new stadiums with facilites as good as most grounds around the world, and that is a great thing.

    And besides, if games were still played in the older grounds, I am pretty certain the same people complaining about the new grounds would have complained about the old ones, and claim that they do not have adequate facilities. I mean, come on, at least an attempt has been made to provide teams with great facilities.

    I agree that tickets are too expensive, and that a lot of the lively nature that was expected has ben robbed, and that is unfortunate for the game.

    But let us for once look beyond our own needs as fans.. and the first thing we can do is to acknowledge and appreciate the fact that about 10 countries have come together to host an event of as big a magnitude as this. In that sense, the world cup can leave a legacy in the Caribbean.. and that’s something great

  • pamela wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 6.31 pm

    I do understand a bit of Selvey; the ICC has rather sucked the life out of this world cup. The empty stands are ridiculous!

    New layout, Will?

  • Will wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 7.40 pm

    Yes…trying some new things out. Easter and all that.

  • Michael wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 8.38 pm

    Who’s currently the dumbest player in world cricket? Mark Boucher :D

    That was the the most brainless shot I’ve seen for a time. Competing with KP here…

  • Sean wrote:
    April 7th, 2007 at 8.50 pm

    Hey Michael, how goes it.

    Listening to TMS in UK here. They said he didn’t go through with the shot. If he had done it would have gone for a six apparently.

    Cricinfo are saying this is good news for England and West Indies but with the Banglas in this form, is it really?

    Part of me would love to see Bangladesh make it to the semis.

  • Michael wrote:
    April 8th, 2007 at 2.49 pm

    G’day Sean hope you’re enjoying the coverage mate.

    The six the ball before was a stupendous shot. The following I don’t really know how to describe. I almost liken it to hitting a catch to your son to make him feel better; dance out and control it down his throat.

    As for Bangladesh, that was a sweet victory. With 1 win and 3 losses in the Super 8, I am afraid they aren’t going anywhere. :( They get to play Giant Killer though and that can only boost their confidence. They’ve checked South Africa off their list…

  • Graham E Smith wrote:
    April 8th, 2007 at 3.24 pm

    Sunday……Less than 20 mins. into the match…..both Vaughan and Strauss gone……I wonder if they have relations on the selection committee?????
    When are they going to be sent home?

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