Outfield Controversy
The ground's second Test match began against England on 13 February 2009. However, the match was abandoned after only ten balls due to the outfield's dangerous condition. The groundstaff had applied an extra layer of sand after recent flooding, which resulted in the bowlers being unable to gain a foothold when running in to bowl. The sandy nature of the outfield earnt the ground the nickname of 'Antigua's 366th beach' in the buildup to the game. The aftermath of this abandonment caused great embarrassment for West Indies cricket, resulting in two inquests to be held by WICB and the ICC. The outcome of the ICC inquest resulted in the ground being suspended from staging all international matches for twelve months and an official warning was issued to the WICB.
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“And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.”
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