What was supposed to be a historic occasion for Caribbean cricket is now in jeopardy. The $2 million sponsorship deal for the third Test between Australia and West Indies, due to commence at Sabina Park, Jamaica, is in uncertainty. With the Test match only weeks away, critical infrastructure needs to be finished, including floodlights, dressing rooms, and media facilities. This is not just disappointing for fans and players; it’s a huge blow to the credibility of West Indies cricket. Here at Cricmatch, we delve into how the situation has unfolded, culpability, and what the implications are for future Test cricket in the Caribbean.
⚠️ The Concern: Sabina Park Not Prepared for Prime Time Reports have claimed that Sabina Park was chosen as the venue for the first day-night Test in the Caribbean in nearly a decade, and that it would have been played with a pink ball to provide an experience for fans, broadcasters and sponsors in prime time. However, a recent inspection of the venue by officials from Cricket West Indies (CWI) showed some key items at the venue were incomplete or unusable:
Floodlights are not functional.
Dressing rooms are incomplete and plumbing and electrical is not operational.
The pitch and outfield have yet to reach full recovery from heavy rain.
Media and hospitality boxes are incomplete and unsafe for occupancy.
A senior official from CWI told Cricmatch,
“We were assured by local authorities that renovations would be completed. This unfortunately seems to have been delayed by multiple issues, and now we have to deal with the fallout.
🗣️ Where Does Blame Lie?
The blame is being passed around. CWI are blaming the Jamaican government and sports ministry for delays in funding, approvals for clearances and contractors. Local officials are blaming unseasonal rain and lack of materials.
Meanwhile, the Australian board (CA), apparently are beginning to get frustrated. There are whispers that the Australian management do not believe they were informed soon enough about the venue issues. From Australia, the media are calling it “an organizational disaster” and “a blot on the professionalism of West Indies cricket.”
This is not the first time controversy has arisen out of infrastructure in international cricket. We just witnessed similar chaos surrounding the 2023 PSL final, where the match had to be moved at the last minute due to a pitch failure in Lahore.
🇦🇺 Australia So Far
Australia leads the 3-test series 2 – 0, Australia has shown the power they’ve got with bat and ball in the two tests. The third test was seen as a chance for West Indies to redeem themselves, and to provide some joy to local fans. A pink-ball test was expected to attract bigger crowds and more viewers on TV throughout the Caribbean.
For West Indies, if the test is cancelled or moved, that would take away the home-field advantage, and also lack the momentum from the previous tests. More importantly, it would shift the local fans further away from a format that is already having trouble surviving in the region.
🔁 What Are the Options?
According to sources close to Cricmatch, Cricket West Indies is exploring the following options urgently:
Relocate the match to a different venue – like Antigua or Trinidad – where facilities are ready to receive the players.
Change the match to a normal day Test match – using a backup location.
Postpone the Test match by one week – although this conflicts with Australia’s compact tour.
Cancel the Test match totally – leading to a broadcast penalty, and even angrier fans.
None of these options are ideal. Cancelling the Test could result in millions in lost revenue, further weakening CWI’s fragile financial situation.
📉 Why This Matters for Test Cricket
This is not simply a logistical failure, but also a representation of a larger problem. Test cricket in the West Indies has been in decline for a decade. Poor public facilities, lack of public attendance and poor performances from the team have chipped away at public loyalty. Events like this only add to the narrative.
Cricket boards around the world are throwing a lot of money at T20 leagues, but Test cricket requires a greater level of planning and respect. To host a test (let alone a pink-ball test) should be a source of pride. This has now turned into a public humiliation.
At Cricmatch, we think that the legacy of West Indies cricket deserves better. The history produced by Brian Lara, Malcolm Marshall, Clive Lloyd and Chris Gayle is everything Test cricket should emphasise and represent. Not being able to do the basics to host a Test match is not just a mistake, it is an insult to that legacy.
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💬 Take part in the conversation
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