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Fabian forces venue switch

All four Barbados Select Cricket Tour matches will now be played in Somerset and all during the day.

In addition, the order of the matches has been altered to ensure Bermudians get maximum opportunity to see the best local players in action against the Caribbean's triple-crown champions.

These changes have been necessitated by Hurricane Fabian's damage to the North Field at the National Sports Centre (NSC) where the last two games of the series - both day-night fixtures - were to be played next Tuesday and Wednesday, starting at 4 p.m.

However, those matches - featuring a Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) Select and a Somerset/St. George's Cup Match Select - have been switched to Saturday and Sunday respectively, commencing at 11 a.m.

In return, the teams originally scheduled to face the visitors this weekend will play them during the day next Tuesday (an All-Counties Select) and Wednesday (Somerset Select).

Chairman of Somerset's Tour Committee Anthony Bailey said they accepted that being forced to play next week's games during the day meant fewer people would be able to attend given work commitments. Therefore, the order of matches was shuffled to give more fans the opportunity to see the higher-profile games.

"We want to ensure the public are entertained and I think they will be very entertained with the matches on the weekend given the calibre of players we put on the field against the Barbadians."

Regarding the NSC, Bailey said he was informed that significant damage had been done to lights at the Frog Lane venue and repairs could not be effected this week.

"It's our understanding that they've lost 30 to 40 lights and the wind has changed the alignment of those that are left. There's no way they can repair the lights in time," he said, lamenting the loss of such a prized location.

"It is a pity because I watched the match down there when (West Indies captain) Brian Lara was here and it was very attractive at night, very nice, and the people enjoyed it very much. It's definitely a great atmosphere."

The ravages of last Friday's hurricane have also forced the committee to secure alternative accommodation for the Barbadians who were booked to stay at Sonesta Beach Hotel. However, that South Shore resort has closed indefinitely after being battered by the category-three storm so the cricketers have been moved to Elbow Beach Hotel.

Despite the logistical upheaval, Bailey said there was "never any consideration of calling off the tour", only possibly putting it back by a week but that would have posed problems for the visiting players.

"Only if the airport was going to be closed would it have been called off," he said.

Still, with the irregular flight schedules, he is crossing his fingers the Barbadian contingent - which contains players who have represented the West Indies - will reach here by Friday morning though they were initially to arrive tomorrow night.

"Right now, it's touch and go. We have been told they will get out of Barbados as planned. The issue is with us in Bermuda since we're not landing flights in the evening at present.

"So the guys will most likely have to overnight in New York on Thursday and come in on Friday morning. We're hoping that things pan out."