Ticket sales are slow for the first ever day/night Test match at Kensington Oval starting on Saturday.
Director of cricket at the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Steven Leslie, says response has been slow for the third Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka, but he expects things to pick up today and tomorrow.
“We have had a slow response to ticket sales. The box office would have officially opened on Monday, but we expect as we approach the Test match that there will be an increase. The online facility was only made available last Friday and as the week progresses, we expect an improvement in ticket sales for the Test match,” he said.
West Indies, having won the opening match at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and drawn the second Test in St Lucia, only require a draw in Barbados to record a rare series win. Sixth-ranked Sri Lanka are seeking to become the first side from the Asian sub-continent to win a Test at the Oval which will be hosting its 52nd match.
Only two stands, the Three Ws and the Greenidge and Haynes, will be open with the most expensive ticket $50 for the Three Ws’ lower level while the most economical is the Greenidge and Haynes lower stand priced at $40.
Season tickets for the Greenidge and Haynes Stand are priced at $120 while those for the Three Ws can be bought for $150.
Children 12 and under will be allowed free with the purchase of an adult ticket and there will also be free admittance for senior citizens 60 years and over with the presentation of an identification card.
Leslie added that there was a nice, even coverage of grass under the supervision of former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler Richard “Prof” Edwards and head curator Hendy Davis.
“We are expecting a good Test match and we expect it to last five days. As I said before, there will be something for the fast bowlers who put in the effort but batsmen should like the pitch as well, they should be able to get value for their shots.”
Leslie added that the spinners could come into play on days four and five.
“My information is that going into the fourth and fifth day, there will be something on offer for the spinners. It should turn and that could make things interesting,” he added.
Speaking after the drawn second Test, West Indies captain Jason Holder said he believes Barbadian fanswill come out to support the team.
“It’s obviously a special occasion, the first day-night Test in the Caribbean. I guess the people of Barbados – I’m from Barbados as well – will come out and support us. They’re really avid cricket fans and it should be a really good spectacle at the Kensington Oval,” he said.
Apart from Holder, there are six other Barbadians in the West Indies squad. He is joined by batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope and Roston Chase, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and fast bowlers, Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins. (MK)
