Will Providence pass this test?
Asks Donald Duff
Stabroek News
March 28, 2007
What will it be for Guyana's spankingly new US$25m stadium? Will there be rave reviews or will there be more criticisms? Will the rains ruin today's match or will Guyanese cricket fans have their biggest celebration ever at the biggest ever cricket compe
Guyana's US$25m stadium will come under the microscope this morning when Sri Lanka and South Africa square off in the second match of the International Cricket Council's Super Eight round of the 2007 World Cup competition.
But the match itself might be forced to take a backseat as concerns over the weather and how the pitch and outfield will fare will probably engage the attention of the local and international media as much as the outcome of the match itself.
It's been two long years since site preparations work commenced in early 2005 following a US$6m grant and a US$19m concessional line of credit from the Indian government.
And after several pronouncements from the Local Organising Committee officials and several inspections by ICC and CWC officials D-Day is finally here.
Concerns over the readiness of the stadium were raised yesterday when the South African team abandoned their net sessions at the facility and complained that the surface of the practice nets was not up to standard.
"It's very frustrating not to be able to train properly for two days in a row but we're not going to let that get us down," South African coach Mickey Arthur told reporters.
The South Africans were at the stadium site early yesterday morning intent on having net sessions after cricket's unwelcome guest- the rain- had left briefly possibly for a visit to Antigua where the West Indies took on Australia.
The South Africans were understandably disappointed at not being able to have a proper net session and like the Sri Lankans who were also at the facility, opted for fielding drills instead.
Despite all the hullabaloo surrounding the stadium and its facilities cricket fans were in a last-minute rush to get tickets for today's matches although three categories of tickets for the West Indies versus Sri Lanka game at the venue have already been sold out.
Chaitram Ramdehol, finance and ticket manager of the LOC told Stabroek Sports yesterday that he expected a bumper if not a sold out crowd today.
Ramdehol said there was a mad rush for tickets at the LOC office on Middle Street yesterday but he was unable to say how much tickets had been sold so far.
"Our culture is last minuteā€¦" Ramdehol said adding that there were still tickets available.
If for some reason the forecast of rain for today proves to be inaccurate or if play is possible even if there is some amount of rainfall the South Africans are expected to come roaring back like the number-one ranked team they are, following their defeat to Australia in the previous round.
They, might, however find the Sri Lankans a handful especially since the pitch is expected to be similar to those Muttiah Muralitharan and company are accustomed to playing on.
And while 'Murali' could prove to be a thorn in South Africa's side pacers Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof should not be ruled out.
In the batting department Sri Lanka will rely on skipper Mahela Jayawardene, the experienced Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Attapattu.
South Africa will look to Herschelle `Sixes' Gibbs, skipper Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis in the batting department and Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt and Robin Pieterson to dismiss the Sri Lankans.
Teams:South Africa (probable) 1 Graeme Smith, 2 AB de Villiers, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Herschelle Gibbs, 5 Ashley Prince, 6 Mark Boucher, 7 Justin Kemp, 8 Shaun Pollock, 9 Andrew Hall, 10 Charl Langeveldt, 11 Makhaya Ntini
Sri Lanka (probable)1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Mahela Jayawardene, 4 Kumar Sangakkara, 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Russel Arnold, 7 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Farveez Maharoof, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith Malinga.