Sir Viv Richards Stadium Groundsman Accepts Fault After Dangerous Pitch Ends Championship Match

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) — Chief groundsman Norville Simon has accepted full blame after the West Indies Championship match between Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Leeward Islands Hurricanes was abandoned at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Tuesday because of an unsafe playing surface.

Simon said the episode left him deeply shaken, calling it among the most painful experiences of his career. “To be honest, that was one of the most heartbreaking feelings that I’ve had in years,” Simon said. “I’ve never felt like this, but again, these things happen, and I’m making no excuses.”

Officials ended the fixture on day three after Test pacer Jayden Seales delivered a ball that rose alarmingly from a good length and struck Leeward Islands seamer Jeremiah Louis on the helmet. Louis was sent to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where he was examined before being cleared and released.

By the time the match was stopped, 147 overs had been bowled and more than 25 wickets had fallen. The Leewards were ahead by 96 runs when play was brought to an end.

Simon acknowledged that he had some concerns before the game, but said he did not expect the pitch to become so hazardous. He identified one crack as the main problem. “There was a part on the Sir Andy Roberts end, on the left-hand side of the pitch, there was a crack on the offside of it that I did not see,” Simon explained. “Had I seen it, I would have dealt with it, and that was the only issue. For me, everything else was fine. Nobody really came to me directly, but I’ve heard one or two players speak about the crack. That was of no major concern to me because that was really out of the playing area.”

Although Simon believed the crack sat outside the regular batting zone, it still had a major impact on the contest. Seales dominated the innings, taking seven second-innings wickets after claiming three in the first innings.

On the third morning, Seales had also removed Jahmar Hamilton, who was caught at second slip after a sharply lifting delivery took the glove. Three balls earlier, he had struck tall all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall on the shoulder with a bouncer.

Simon said Tuesday’s embarrassment must not happen again. After commending his staff for their work, he made a public commitment to Antigua and Barbuda and to the stadium’s management. “From now on, I’m making this promise to the nation of Antigua and Barbuda and to the management and staff of Sir Viv [Stadium] that once I’m here, we will definitely try to put things in place so that this never happens again,” he said.