{{Short description|Sports venue in Antigua and Barbuda}} {{for|the former football stadium in England|Old Recreation Ground}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox cricket ground | ground_name = Antigua Recreation Ground | nickname = | image = Antigua Recreation Ground WI v A 2003 001.jpg | caption = West Indies v Australia in May 2003 | country = West Indies | location = [[Antigua]] | establishment = 1978 | seating_capacity = 9,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Antigua Recreation Ground {{!}} West Indies {{!}} Cricket Grounds |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/ground/59495.html |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> | owner = | operator = | tenants = | end1 = Pavilion End | end2 = Factory Road End | international = true | firstodidate = 22 Feb | firstodiyear = 1978 | firstodihome = West Indies | firstodiaway = Australia | lastodidate = 28 Feb | lastodiyear = 2007 | lastodihome = Bangladesh | lastodiaway = Canada | firsttestdate = 28 Mar – 1 Apr | firsttestyear = 1981 | firsttesthome = West Indies | firsttestaway = England | lasttestdate = 15–19 Feb | lasttestyear = 2009 | lasttesthome = West Indies | lasttestaway = England | date = 21 February | year = 2009 | source = http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/ground/59495.html Antigua Recreation Ground, Cricinfo }}
'''Antigua Recreation Ground''' is the [[national stadium]] of [[Antigua and Barbuda]]. It is located in [[St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda|St. John's]], on the island of [[Antigua]]. The ground has been used by the [[West Indies cricket team]] and [[Antigua and Barbuda national football team]]. It had [[Test cricket]] status.<ref>[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/ground/59495.html Cricinfo]</ref> It was also known as the '''Old Recreation Ground''', or the '''Old Rec'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wiveng2009/content/story/390757.html |title=England desperate for fightback at old Rec |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/feb/15/vic-marks-england-west-indies-antigua |title=Test saved by old Rec put to good use |work=The Guardian |date=15 February 2009 |access-date=9 February 2019}}
A number of great cricketers, including [[Andy Roberts (cricketer)|Andy Roberts]] and [[Richie Richardson]], began their first-class careers there.
One of Antigua's most famous sons, [[Viv Richards]], scored the fastest [[test match cricket|Test match]] century off 56 balls, that record was recently equalled by [[Misbah-ul-haq]] of [[Pakistan]]. {{Cite web | url = http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_TEST_100S_50S.html | title = Fastest Tests Centuries and 50s | access-date = 22 March 2007 | publisher = Cricinfo | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070312030702/http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_TEST_100S_50S.html | archive-date = 12 March 2007 | url-status = dead }} </ref> against [[England cricket team|England]] in the ''"[[Blackwash]]"'' series of 1986 at the Recreation Ground. It was also where [[Brian Lara]] twice set the record for highest individual Test innings, scoring 375 in 1994 and the current record of 400 not out in 2004, both times against [[England cricket team|England]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/3620145.stm | title = Lara sets Test record | date = 12 April 2004 | access-date = 22 March 2007 | publisher = BBC Sport }}</ref>
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. This is colloquially known as a [[List of cricket terms#F|"featherbed"]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/239756.html | title = A glossary of cricket terms | access-date = 3 January 2007 | publisher = Cricinfo }}</ref>
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 v England on 13 February 2009 after just ten balls (due to an unfit outfield), an extra Test, called the Third Test, began at the Antigua Recreation Ground on 15 February 2009, despite concerns about the dilapidated condition of the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/7886840.stm|title=West Indies v England 2nd Test|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=13 February 2009|access-date=13 August 2019}}</ref>
Like many other cricket grounds in the Caribbean, the Antigua Recreation Ground traditionally hosts a variety of off the field entertainment, particularly music, both live and recorded, during breaks in play. For many years, an entertainer called ''[[Gravy (entertainer)|Gravy]]'' would operate in the stands, usually in [[fancy dress]].
==List of five-wicket hauls== A total of 16 [[five-wicket haul]]s were taken in Test matches on the ground. {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Five-wicket hauls in Men's Test matches at Antigua Recreation Ground{{efn-ua|name=WSC|Additionally, [[Dennis Lillee]] took 6/125 for the [[World Series Cricket Australia XI|WSC Australians]] against the [[World Series Cricket West Indies XI|WSC West Indies]] in the 5th Supertest during the [[Australian World Series Cricket team in the West Indies in 1979|1979 World Series Cricket tour]] of the West Indies}} |- align=center ! No. ! Bowler ! Date ! Team ! Opposing Team ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|Inn ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|O ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|R ! scope="col" style="width:20px;"|W ! Result |-align="center" | 1 || [[Colin Croft]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1981|3|27}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|25}} || {{nts|74}} || {{nts|6}} || Drawn<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17039/game/63284/west-indies-vs-england-4th-test-england-tour-of-west-indies-1980-81 4th Test, England tour of West Indies at St John's, Mar 27 – Apr 1 1981], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 2 || [[Carl Rackemann]]{{efn-ua|name=a84|Rackemann and Garner took their give-wicket hauls in the same match.}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1984|4|7}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|42.4}} || {{nts|161}} || {{nts|5}} || West Indies won<ref name=aus84>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16918/game/63370/west-indies-vs-australia-4th-test-australia-tour-of-west-indies-1983-84 4th Test, Australia tour of West Indies at St John's, Apr 7–11 1984], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 3 || [[Joel Garner]]{{efn-ua|name=a84}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1984|4|7}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{nts|3}} || {{nts|20.5}} || {{nts|63}} || {{nts|5}} || West Indies won<ref name=aus84/> |- align="center" | 4 || [[Ian Bishop (cricketer)|Ian Bishop]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|4|12}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|28.1}} || {{nts|84}} || {{nts|5}} ||West Indies won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16616/game/63529/west-indies-vs-england-5th-test-england-tour-of-west-indies-1989-90 5th Test, England tour of West Indies at St John's, Apr 12–16 1990], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 5 || [[Waqar Younis]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1993|5|1}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|28}} || {{nts|104}} || {{nts|5}} || Drawn<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16432/game/63608/west-indies-vs-pakistan-3rd-test-pakistan-tour-of-west-indies-1992-93 3rd Test, Pakistan tour of West Indies at St John's, May 1–6 1993], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 6 || [[Courtney Walsh]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1995|4|8}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|21.3}} || {{nts|54}} || {{nts|6}} || Drawn<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16290/game/63681/west-indies-vs-australia-2nd-test-australia-tour-of-west-indies-1994-95 2nd Test, Australia tour of West Indies at St John's, Apr 8–13 1995], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 7 || [[Curtly Ambrose]]{{efn-ua|name=n96|Ambrose and Morrison took their five-wicket hauls during the same match.}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1996|4|27}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|NZL}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|32}} || {{nts|68}} || {{nts|5}} || Drawn<ref name=nz96>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16203/game/63712/west-indies-vs-new-zealand-2nd-test-new-zealand-tour-of-west-indies-1995-96 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of West Indies at St John's, Apr 27 – May 2 1996], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 8 || [[Danny Morrison (cricketer)|Danny Morrison]]{{efn-ua|name=n96}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1996|4|27}} || {{cr|NZL}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|3}} || {{nts|20}} || {{nts|61}} || {{nts|5}} || Drawn<ref name=nz96/> |- align="center" | 9 || [[Curtly Ambrose]]{{efn-ua|name=s97|Ambrose and Muralitharan took their five-wicket hauls during the same match.}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1997|6|13}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|SRI}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|13.1}} || {{nts|37}} || {{nts|5}} || West Indies won<ref name=sl97>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15847/game/63840/west-indies-vs-australia-4th-test-australia-tour-of-west-indies-1998-99 4th Test, Australia tour of West Indies at St John's, Apr 3–7 1999], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 10 || [[Muttiah Muralitharan]]{{efn-ua|name=s97}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1997|6|13}} || {{cr|SRI}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|23.4}} || {{nts|34}} || {{nts|5}} || West Indies won<ref name=sl97/> |- align="center" | 11 || [[Curtly Ambrose]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1999|4|3}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|29.5}} || {{nts|94}} || {{nts|5}} || Australia won<ref name="sl97"/> |- align="center" | 12 || [[Courtney Walsh]]{{efn-ua|name=p00|Walsh's and both of Wasim Akram's five-wicket hauls were taken during the same match.}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2000|5|25}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|26}} || {{nts|83}} || {{nts|5}} || West Indies won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15689/game/63882/west-indies-vs-pakistan-3rd-test-pakistan-tour-of-west-indies-2000 3rd Test, Pakistan tour of West Indies at St John's, May 25–29 2000], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 13 || [[Wasim Akram]]{{efn-ua|name=p00}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2000|5|25}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|26.2}} || {{nts|61}} || {{nts|6}} || West Indies won |- align="center" | 14 || [[Wasim Akram]]{{efn-ua|name=p00}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2000|5|25}} || {{cr|PAK}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|4}} || {{nts|30}} || {{nts|49}} || {{nts|5}} || West Indies won |- align="center" | 15 || [[Jermaine Lawson]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|5|9}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{nts|1}} || {{nts|19.1}} || {{nts|78}} || {{nts|7}} || West Indies won<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15205/game/64027/west-indies-vs-australia-4th-test-australia-tour-of-west-indies-2003 4th Test, Australia tour of West Indies at St John's, May 9–13 2003], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |- align="center" | 16 || [[Graeme Swann]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2009|2|15}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{cr|WIN}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|24}} || {{nts|57}} || {{nts|5}} || Drawn<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/13775/game/390680/west-indies-vs-england-3rd-test-england-tour-of-west-indies-2008-09 3rd Test, England tour of West Indies at St John's, Feb 15–19 2009], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 7 January 2020.</ref> |}
==See also== {{Commons category|Antigua Recreation Ground}} *[[Cricket]] *[[2007 Cricket World Cup]] *[[List of Test cricket grounds]] *[[Stanford Cricket Ground]] *[[Sir Vivian Richards Stadium]]
==Notes== {{notelist-ua}}
==References== {{reflist}}
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[[Category:Sports venues in Antigua and Barbuda]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda]] [[Category:National stadiums|Antigua]] [[Category:Sport in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda]] [[Category:Cricket grounds in Antigua and Barbuda]] [[Category:Test cricket grounds in the West Indies]] [[Category:Football venues in Antigua and Barbuda]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1978]] [[Category:1978 establishments in the British Empire]]