Round-up: Cardiff loses West Indies Test after payment delay
Cardiff's future as a Test venue is in doubt after one of next summer's three West Indies Test matches, originally awarded to the Welsh ground, was put back out to tender. The decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board opens the door for Lord's to host the contest, a move that will please both cricket's money men and the touring party.
The reversal came after Glamorgan informed the governing body that they would need extra time to pay the staging fee agreed for this year's first Test against Sri Lanka, which took place last month. There have been persistent rumours that the match would go to Lord's, amid suggestions that they had bid more in the first place.
The ECB chief executive, David Collier, said that Cardiff would still be allowed to tender for Test matches but their failure to host the West Indies game – and the money they lost on this year's rain-affected Sri Lanka game, thought to be in the region of £1.5m – raises doubts over the venue's viability as a Test venue.
If Glamorgan are embarrassed, however, it is as nothing to the chagrin experienced by West Indian broadcasters IMG Media, responsible for showing off-field replays when decisions are reviewed during the current series in the Caribbean.
The Indian captain, M S Dhoni, was caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul off the bowling of Fidel Edwards on the opening day of the current match in Barbados, but on-field umpire Ian Gould suspected the delivery may have been a no-ball and sought confirmation from the third umpire, Gregory Brathwaite.
However, Braithwaite was shown the wrong delivery and Dhoni was wrongly given out. "Having looked into the situation, I am satisfied it was an unfortunate but honest mistake in what is a tense environment," said match referee Chris Broad.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments