Let the music play, I'll just go top up

Despite a three-year gap in hosting Tests the ARG has looked pretty much as everyone remembered it. One detail, though, is not quite the same.

The party stand, the large double-decker structure to the left of the pavilion, hasn't been able to live up to its name. Before the match started there was a suggestion that the stand had been condemned and couldn't be used. Then they were just going to use the bottom, before finally announcing they would open the entire structure.

Still, though, the authorities weren't convinced enough to allow Chickie and his disco back in there. Perhaps that's not surprising, it does look a rather ropey structure. In fact, the day before the game a welder was busy making a few last-minutes repairs. It was a case of no sudden movements for the fans who sat there.

So what about Chickie and the entertainment? He has been found a new home by the scoreboard and certainly hasn't let the crowd down. At the end of each over, the fall of each wicket, and even each boundary, the music is pumped out. It's almost like Twenty20.

An interesting collection of tunes make their way out, ranging from a bit of Queen, to a taste of Abba via a quick flavour of Boy George. There is plenty of local flavour, too, and by mid-afternoon the England fans were dancing to anything as the runs flowed. At one point it turned into a contest between Chickie and the Barmy Army.

However, what makes the ARG different was around the corner. Just because play has ended doesn't mean the music stops. Actually, people come into the ground just to party and the speakers are cranked up a few notches.

About an hour after the close he finally announces: "It's time for me to go now, but I'll be back tomorrow." He also warns people to be careful as they leave. I doubt he did that before. Maybe health and safety have got to him.

******

Michael Holding was 55 on Monday and was also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame alongside Andy Roberts and Viv Richards. Thirteen of the current 55 inductees are West Indians, highlighting what an immense part they have played in world cricket.

This ceremony was due to take place on Saturday, the second day of the second Test, but of course that game lasted 10 balls to sort of ruin all the ICC's best laid plans. However, never fear, they wouldn't miss out.

After being presented with commemorative caps by Julian Hunte, the WICB president, the trio went on a lap around the ARG with the healthy crowd standing. Their career highlights were also read out over the PA system, but someone perhaps underestimated everything the three had achieved. Viv's career took two thirds of the lap to complete and by the time Holding's had been wrapped up the players had long since moved on.

*****

I needed to top up on some mobile credit today. Simple enough you may think. So I popped outside the ground during the lunch interval and spotted a stall display a sign saying credit available. "Can I have $20 worth," I ask only to be met with: "We don't sell credit, have to try the chemist down the street."

This wasn't a major issue, but as I turned away I heard one man say: "So why don't you take your bloody sign down." He had a point.