Warner Park one of the `great success stories’ - says Lockerbie
Guyana Chronicle
February 4, 2007
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Top Cricket World Cup official Don Lockerbie has described the Warner Park venue here as one of the “great success stories” of the upcoming Cricket World Cup and has praised the efforts of the Local Organising Committee in ensuring the venue’s readiness to meet its commitments.
Lockerbie, CWC’s venue development director, made an inspection at the Warner Park venue earlier this week, accompanied by several CWC and International Cricket Council officials.
“While we have got small notes that we added, we are getting closer and closer (to full readiness),” Lockerbie told CMC Sports following a tour of the venue that will hosts Group A preliminary round matches.
“St Kitts have always been one of the great success stories for Cricket World Cup. I have always said that back in 2004 and 2005, if you were a betting man you wouldn’t be betting on St Kitts to be selected as a World Cup venue and yet they have met all the issues we had in the bid book.
“And they have not only met them, they have exceeded them and here they are, one of the only two countries that truly have their legacy stadiums completed on time, that being St Lucia’s Beausejour Stadium and Warner Park.”
Warner Park is likely to come under intense media scrutiny as it has been designated the group that includes world champions Australia, South Africa, along with the Netherlands and Scotland.
Lockerbie said Warner Park now only needs finishing touches, with the addition of temporary seating expected to upgrade the ground significantly.
“The venue is taking shape more and more so because now we have the overlay from Cricket World Cup being added so we are actually adding 4 000 more seats to the ground with covered seating,” Lockerbie said.
“We have taken all of our notes from the ODI and Test last May and June and we are making improvements to the venues based on ICC comments and just overall what the World Cup standards would be.”
He also praised the playing area which, in addition to last year’s international fixtures, hosted matches between West Indies A and Sri Lanka A last December.
“The pitch and field look to be in tremendous shape and also the Cayon and Connery practice grounds were very, very impressive,” Lockerbie noted.
Warner Park will carry a capacity of 10 000.