Play abandoned in second Test over pitch concerns
Bell and Harmison axed for second Test against West Indies in Antigua
Also In The News
|
Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs has agreed a one-year extension to his current contract that will see him stay on at Manchester United until the summer of 2010. |  |
Friday, 13, Feb 2009 10:35
The first day's play in the second Test has been abandoned after less than an hour after West Indies bowlers expressed concern over the pitch.
Antigua had been hit by heavy rains in the last week and ground staff had attempted to prepare the field at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium by sprinkling sand over the outfield.
But with England on just 7-0, play was postponed for the day after the hosts' pacemen complained to umpires over struggling with their run-ups.
Match referee Alan Hurst explained the run-ups had been "deemed to be dangerous for the bowlers and the decision has been taken to abandon play".
"We're looking into options to relocate, so rather than say play is abandoned, we're abandoning play for the day," he added.
There is as yet no confirmation whether play will resume on Saturday.
Ian Bell and Steve Harmison had earlier been left out of the England XI for the second Test in Antigua.
Owais Shah and James Anderson were drafted into the side as the tourists looked to bounce back from their humiliating defeat in Jamaica.
Andrew Strauss' side were dismissed for just 51 in their second innings - England's third lowest Test total - and slumped to an innings defeat at Sabina Park.
Changes had been expected with Middlesex batsman Shah replacing an out-of-form Bell who scored 28 and 4 in the first Test.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle had won the toss in Antigua on Friday lunchtime and put England into bat, hoping to take early wickets on a surface hit by recent heavy rain.