Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
JARRETT PARK is all but completely ready for next Tuesday's one-day international match between the touring India team and their Jamaica counterparts, which will be the second city's first international game in more than three years.
"We are basically ready and rearing to go," said Tom Chambers, the president of the St. James Cricket Association Limited (St.JCAL), while speaking at a press conference in Montego Bay yesterday. "We have been anxiously awaiting a return of international cricket, so we are naturally quite happy."
In terms of the $600,000 preparatory work now taking place at Jarrett Park, chairman of the Jarrett Park Management Committee (JPMC), Adrian Grant, said except for a paint job, the changing rooms were ready. However, he said the playing surface, which was being affected by a drought in the area was only about 75 per cent ready.
"We are currently seeking the assistance of the St. James Fire Department and Rapid Response to water the outfield as some sections are covered with large cracks," said Grant. "However, we are quite confident that we will be ready come next week."
Brian Breese, the cricket operations manager for the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), who was also present at the press conference, said he was quite pleased with the state of the preparations and expressed confidence that the game would be a success.
The game, which is being considered a dress rehearsal for Montego Bay's hosting of practice games in the lead-up to the 2007 ICC Cricket World, is also expected to have major spin-off benefits for St. James. According to StJCAL secretary Michael Ellis, his association has outlined four major objectives for hosting the game.
The objectives outlined are: (1) To help revive the parish's flagging domestic cricket. (2) Help to generate funds to repair the Barnett Oval facilities. (3) Help to reposition Jarrett Park as a suitable venue for international cricket. (4) Act as a dress rehearsal for the ICC World Cup practice games.
The game has received the full backing of the Montego Bay Indian community which will be hosting a reception for the Indian team on the day before the game; and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, which is pledging its full support.
As a special gesture to school-age cricketers and cricket fans, all students in uniform, who are accompanied by a teacher, will be allowed free access to the game.
