Antigua Recreation Ground

Antigua Recreation Ground, also known as the Old Recreation Ground or the Old Rec, is the national stadium of Antigua and Barbuda, located in St. John's on the island of Antigua. Established in 1978 with a capacity of 9,000, the ground was used by the West Indies cricket team and the Antigua and Barbuda national football team, and held Test cricket status. The ground hosted its first men's Test match on 28 March 1981 when West Indies played England, and its last Test on 15-19 February 2009, also against England. The Recreation Ground is most famous as the venue where Brian Lara twice set the record for the highest individual Test innings, scoring 375 in 1994 and the current record of 400 not out in 2004, both times against England. 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. 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 and England on 13 February 2009 after just ten balls due to an unfit outfield, an extra Test began at the Antigua Recreation Ground on 15 February 2009, despite concerns about the dilapidated condition of the stadium.

Antigua Recreation Ground, also known as the Old Recreation Ground or the Old Rec, is the national stadium of Antigua and Barbuda, located in St. John's on the island of Antigua. Established in 1978 with a capacity of 9,000, the ground held Test cricket status and hosted its first men's Test on 28 March 1981 when West Indies played England. The Recreation Ground is most famous as the venue where Brian Lara twice set the record for the highest individual Test innings, scoring 375 in 1994 and the current record of 400 not out in 2004, both times against England. 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, colloquially known as a featherbed. After the building of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium for the 2007 World Cup, no further Test cricket was expected at the Recreation Ground, but an extra Test was held there in February 2009 after the abandonment of the Second Test at the new stadium due to an unfit outfield.