Osbourne Browne: Arnos Vale is up to the test

Manager of the National Sports Council, Osbourne Browne, is confident that the Arnos Vale Playing Field and its attending amenities will make the grade when a team of inspectors descend on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this Sunday, January 22.{{more}}

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is set to host three One Day International between the West Indies and Australia on Friday March 16, Sunday March 18 and Tuesday March 20.

Since the announcement of the itinerary last November, the NSC has been putting things in place to ensure the facility meets the required the standard for hosting matches of that nature.

According to Browne: “The main outfield has been quickly transformed and now displays a fully grassed and green canopy”.

Not resting on its laurels and admitting that it is work in progress, Browne further added, “The curative and manicuring of works are continuing to ensure that the high tradition of lush, verdant outfield at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex is maintained”.

The attention of the inspection team is expected to be focussed on the main outfield; the Cricket pitches; the Wilf Slack Practice Nets, as well as Cricket related equipment including water soppers, the Media Centre, and the Players Pavilion.

The inspection team, which is moving through the Caribbean visiting host venues for the series, will comprise officials from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Also included are three officials from the Australian Cricket authorities in Bernard Moran, Team Manager; Peter Roach of the Australian Cricket Association and Sean Carroll, the Anti-corruption Security Manager.

Apart from the visiting officials, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, Julian Jack and his First Vice President Elson Crick will make up the inspection team.

Also on the agenda of the inspection team, is a visit to the Buccama Resort which has been identified as the Hotel for the teams and match officials.

The Arnos Vale Complex is in for some additional sprucing up through funds allocated by the central government, to the tune of EC$600,000.

It is the largest undertaking to be carried out since an almost redo of the facility was done in 2006, ahead of the hosting of warm up matches ahead of the Caribbean hosting of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

In 2007, St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the host venue for the official warm up matches, which involved Australia, Bermuda and England and Zimbabwe.

Australia returned in 2008 to face the West Indies in a One Day International.