Heads buried in the sand

Like some neglected, forgotten old uncle suddenly invited to a function at Government House, the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) was being hastily prepared yesterday for its unexpected return to the limelight as a Test match venue.

For the third successive year, the costly white elephant a few miles away, along the road to nowhere, had failed in its purpose. To ease some of the unqualified shame caused by Friday's abandonment of the second Digicel Test, the ARG was quickly remembered and spruced up.

The white lines on the outfield marking a football pitch revealed its main role now. The decrepit state of the stands told of the years of neglect since the once vibrant ground, site of more batting records than all the others in the region combined, hosted its last Test in 2006.

Wary of the potential risk to spectators - the majority English, judging by Friday's turnout for the debacle at the Sir Vivian Richards ground - the top deck of the popular double-decker stand will be closed.

The bottom deck is where Chicki blasted out his music from giant speakers and Gravy entertained with his cross-dressing gyrations. Given the circumstances, a dirge would be Chicki's most appropriate selection over the coming days.

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