The scene was embarrassingly incongruous.
Against the backdrop of Sabina Park’s spanking new US$25 million, five-storey northern stand and its 70 corporate boxes, ground staff in the middle were busy mopping up water from the expansive blue covers – with a couple of inadequate, manual sponge-rollers, large slabs of foam rubber, brooms, spades and buckets.
It was a throwback to the bad old days, not the sophisticated operation expected of the 21st century and certainly not of a prestigious, globally-televised event as the Cricket World Cup.
The problem, according to Michael Hall, the tournament’s cricket operations officer, was that the motorized “water hogs”, or “super soppers”, were out of commission for a lack of parts.
He said it had been the case for several months but the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), to whom the machines reportedly belong, had not been able to source the relevant parts.
The rain was persistent, but not heavy, and play in the match between Ireland and the West Indies was resumed without prolonged delay, with the reduction of only four overs.
But it was just one of the annoying minor hazards that spoil the tournament and reflect poorly on the hosts.
Heaven forbid if such antiquated methods have to be used in any of the crucial matches from here on.
The outfields at all the venues have been sanded and upgraded so that drainage is now up to international standards.
The experiences during last year’s ODIs against India at Sabina and the last World Cup group stage match between Bangladesh and Bermuda at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday were instructive. A few years ago, not a ball would have been bowled.
But this is counterbalanced by the slackness that leaves the most efficient methods of removing surface water lying idle in some room under multi-million dollar stands for the want of a few relatively inexpensive parts.
Nor is the situation unfamiliar.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) purchased the machines some years ago and distributed them to those territories that host international matches. La-cking maintenance, it wasn’t long before most broke down and were left to rust.
Two seismic shocks have already rocked this World Cup but Bob Woolmer’s tragic death and the exit of two high-profile teams, India and Pakistan, were beyond the organisers’ control. Others, such as situation at Sabina, are not.
Everything else seems to have proceeded relatively smoothly so far, not least the courteous helpfulness of the hundreds of brightly-bedecked volunteers.
Now fifteen vital matches remain, scattered be-tween six different venues. “Logistical nightmare”, the term so readily used in the build up, now becomes a reality.
Teams, officials, media and security (the so-called TOMS) and the accompanying supporters (the FANS) must repeatedly criss-cross the southern Caribbean over the coming month. Airlines, airports and accommodation will be under real pressure.
It is a severe test for Cricket World Cup officials and Local Organising Committees – and it requires more than just getting a few “water hogs” in working order.
