Antigua Recreation Ground

For the former football stadium in England, see Old Recreation Ground.

Antigua Recreation Ground
West Indies v Australia in May 2003
Ground information
LocationAntigua
Establishment1978
Capacity9,000[1]
End names
Pavilion End
Factory Road End
International information
First Test28 Mar – 1 Apr 1981:
 West Indies v  England
Last Test15–19 Feb 2009:
 West Indies v  England
First ODI22 Feb 1978:
 West Indies v  Australia
Last ODI28 Feb 2007:
 Bangladesh v  Canada
As of 21 February 2009
Source: Antigua Recreation Ground, Cricinfo

Antigua Recreation Ground is the national stadium of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located in St. John's, on the island of Antigua. The ground has been used by the West Indies cricket team and Antigua and Barbuda national football team. It had Test cricket status.[2] It was also known as the Old Recreation Ground, or the Old Rec.[3][4] against England in the "Blackwash" series of 1986 at the Recreation Ground. It was also where Brian Lara twice set the record for highest individual Test innings, scoring 375 in 1994 and the current record of 400 not out in 2004, both times against England.[5]

In May 2003 the West Indies completed the highest ever successful run chase in Test Cricket at the ARG, making 418/7 against Australia in their fourth innings to win by 3 wickets.

Antigua is considered to be a good wicket on which to bat – hard and dry whilst not offering much bounce or movement to bowlers. This is colloquially known as a "featherbed".[6]

After the building of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium for the 2007 World Cup, no further Test cricket was expected at the Recreation Ground. However, due to the abandonment of the Second Test between West Indies v England on 13 February 2009 after just ten balls (due to an unfit outfield), an extra Test, called the Third Test, began at the Antigua Recreation Ground on 15 February 2009, despite concerns about the dilapidated condition of the stadium.[7]

Like many other cricket grounds in the Caribbean, the Antigua Recreation Ground traditionally hosts a variety of off the field entertainment, particularly music, both live and recorded, during breaks in play. For many years, an entertainer called Gravy would operate in the stands, usually in fancy dress.

  1. ^ "Antigua Recreation Ground | West Indies | Cricket Grounds". ESPNcricinfo.
  2. ^ Cricinfo
  3. ^ "England desperate for fightback at old Rec". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Test saved by old Rec put to good use". The Guardian. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2019. A number of great cricketers, including Andy Roberts and Richie Richardson, began their first-class careers there. One of Antigua's most famous sons, Viv Richards, scored the fastest Test match century off 56 balls, that record was recently equalled by Misbah-ul-haq of Pakistan. "Fastest Tests Centuries and 50s". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  5. ^ "Lara sets Test record". BBC Sport. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  6. ^ "A glossary of cricket terms". Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
  7. ^ "West Indies v England 2nd Test". BBC Sport. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2019.