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ST JOHN'S, Antigua - The second test between West Indies and England was abandoned after just 10 balls were bowled Friday due to a dangerous outfield, embarrassing Caribbean cricket and forcing the game to be rescheduled for Sunday.
Some 8,000 England fans saw just 1.4 overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium before play was halted with the tourists at 7-0. A new test will start at the Antigua Recreation Ground - extending the series to five tests.
"It's definitely embarrassing," West Indies captain Chris Gayle said. "I apologize to the spectators as well - it's a huge turnout and everybody wants to see cricket. It's really disappointing to see these things happen.
"I am not surprised about the conditions because when we were doing some fielding drills it wasn't suitable at all."
The curtailed test will stand in the record books. The final two tests take place at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, and the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad.
West Indies bowlers complained Friday that they could not keep their footing on the outfield, which is made up of a thick layer of sand in parts.
"The bowlers were struggling to get any sort of grip at all and were going through the sand," match referee Alan Hurst said. "Obviously it was dangerous so that decision had to be made then."
Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board, said he had written to West Indies authorities on Thursday expressing concern about the outfield.
England captain Andrew Strauss said the West Indies bowlers had complained their feet were getting stuck in the ground.
"The umpires spoke to both captains and said that the ground was not fit for test cricket," Strauss said. "If a bowler can't bowl at full speed then a ground is not fit."
The surface at the two-year-old ground was relaid in October to correct drainage issues and the grass has not grown back sufficiently since, which led to huge volumes of sand being spread on to the outfield.
"I don't think there was any doubt there was a problem before we came here with the sand on the ground but everyone thought it was OK," said Hurst, a former Australian fast bowler. "No one had bowled on the wicket to test it out. It would have been jumping the gun to say it was unfit before the start of play.
"In the long run we have to look at the health and safety of the players."
The brief session of play was watched by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.
"It's clearly the West Indies Cricket Board's responsibility to make sure it is fit to play," Lorgat said. "They must take responsibility for it and we will have to follow the process now. It is not good enough."
The debacle re-awoke memories of England's first test against the West Indies in January 1998, which was abandoned after less than an hour's play - becoming the first test in history to be called off because of the state of the pitch.
"It's not right that test cricket matches can be abandoned and lessons must be learned," Strauss said.
But there were reservations about the Antigua Recreation Ground where both teams practiced over the past three days and the third test will begin Sunday.
"The field wasn't up to standard there as well," Gayle, the West Indies captain, said. "It was a bit bumpy because, from what I gather, there is a lot of football played there.
"Even the wicket, there were a couple ridges in the wicket as well, you had some uneven bounce."
Strauss also said it was not in a "great state."
"But I think in terms of potential injuries or whatever, I think it is fit," the England captain said. "We don't know what state the wickets are like there."
"We need to investigate all this and stuff, but I think it is fit for bowlers to run in on and batsmen to play on and fielders to field."
The West Indies has a 1-0 lead in the series.
-AP
