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ICC suspends cricket at Antiguan stadium

  • Story Highlights
  • The ICC postpone matches at Viv Richards Stadium, Antigua, for 12 months
  • This follows the abandonement of the Test between West Indies and England
  • Last month's Test abandoned after 10 balls because of an unfit playing surface
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(CNN) -- The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, the venue of last month's farcical 10-ball Test match between West Indies and England, will not host international cricket for at least 12 months the International Cricket Council has announced.

Groundsmen battled to no avail to try and make the outfield at the Vivian Richards Stadium fit for Test cricket.

Groundsmen battled to no avail to try and make the outfield at the Vivian Richards Stadium fit for Test cricket.

The ICC have informed the West Indies Cricket Board that following last month's abandoned Test, the ground would not be used again until extensive remedial work was carried out and it passes an inspection from the governing body.

The Test was called off after the West Indian bowlers complained of an unfit surface as they ran in to bowl.

The outfield at the stadium was only re-laid in late autumn due its previous shabby condition and there had been little grass growth before last month's second Test.

Sections of the ground were covered in sand and both new-ball bowlers, Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards, had shown their displeasure with their run-ups almost immediately.

Edwards aborted three run-ups in one over, before things finally came to a head when he simply gave up trying and threw the ball to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

That forced authorities to abandon the Test with Dr Julian Hunte, chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board, later admitting the state of the ground was an "embarrassment" for the governing body.

Following the game, Alan Hurst of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, submitted a report to the ICC expressing his concern over the quality of the playing surface, which he described as "unfit" for Test cricket.

That prompted Tuesday's decision with the WICB handed an official warning for "not preparing the ground effectively" while they have also been instructed to monitor remedial work before the ICC will consider conducting an inspection.

"Appropriate work must now be carried out and monitored by the WICB before the inspection can take place," an ICC statement read. "Such inspection will be conducted no earlier than 12 months from yesterday, the day the ICC informed the WICB of its decision."

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