There is no prouder West Indian than Vivian Richards, but last night he spoke of his shame as the inquest began into who was responsible for one of the most shambolic episodes in the history of Test cricket at the stadium that bears his name.

The second Test against England was abandoned after only ten balls because the run-ups on the heavily sanded outfield were too dangerous for the fast bowlers and within hours it had been decided to start all over again tomorrow in what will now be the third Test at the old Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG).

In a futile effort to salvage the Test, the groundstaff began to dig a trench where one of the run-ups had been, with a plan to lay new turf and roll it in overnight, but to no avail. All they were doing was digging a grave for the reputation of West Indies cricket.

“This is like an arrow in my heart. I’m ashamed,” Richards said. “This is not a rural match, this is not what we call a curried goat match, this is a Test match. The administrators have failed again. The individuals who said it was ready were telling little porky pies.

“The reputation of Antigua was in their hands and at the end of the day the Antigua Cricket Association has dropped the ball big-time. The people responsible should have their purses held back. I am appalled.”

Julian Hunte, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, apologised for what he said could be described only as “a fiasco” and “an embarrassment”.

“We operate very similar to most cricket authorities in the sense that the Antigua Cricket Association was mandated by the board to organise this Test match,” he said. “The ultimate responsibility is the board’s.”

The last time anything like this happened was at Sabina Park, Jamaica, in 1998 when the Test was abandoned after 10.1 overs because the pitch was too dangerous. This Test will now take over the unwanted record as the shortest in history.

The uncomfortable fact is that the warning signs were evident last May when drainage problems were exposed during the only previous Test at the new ground, against Australia. It was not until November that the outfield was relaid with hundreds of tonnes of sand, effectively making it the 366th beach in Antigua, and on Thursday evening Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, wrote to Alan Hurst, the match referee, expressing “grave concerns”.

“There were certainly concerns but it wasn’t seen to be unfit to play,” Hurst said. “It wasn’t until the bowlers started running in and we saw that they were actually going through the surface that it was realised how much pressure their feet were putting on it.”

Hurst arrived in Antigua only three days before the game, raising the question of why the ICC does not check venues thoroughly long before Test matches are due to start. “It’s the responsibility of the home board,” Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said. “We accredit venues and the match referees report after each game. The ultimate measure we can adopt is to sanction the accreditation of the venue. I think that is what is at risk for this ground.”

So it is back to the dilapidated, old ARG, which last staged a Test in 2006 when India were the touring team. The top of the famous double-decker stand cannot be used but the surface was still good enough for England to practise there this week.

The move suits the ECB, which was pressing for the switch once it became obvious that the Test would have to be abandoned. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, was also pleased that the short amount of preparation time for the television companies means that the referral system will not be used. “We will be playing like cricket used to be played, with umpires,” he said.

What they said ...

Geoff Boycott: “They can't even organise Test cricket, let alone beach cricket - they'd probably arrange it for when the tide's coming in.”

Tony Cozier, West Indies commentator: “It's an embarrassment for West Indies cricket. It's virtually a beach cricket match as a Test match. They were warned by several people in Antigua that the pitch was being built in the wrong location - we are in a bowl and the water will collect, which is what has caused flooding in the past and that is why the sand has been laid.”

Andrew Strauss, England captain: “The umpires spoke to both captains and said that the ground was not fit for Test cricket. If a bowler can't bowl at full speed, then a ground is not fit.”

Alastair Cook, England opener: “It's a bit of a shambles. When we turned up a few days ago to practise, some of the lads were falling over as they played football. Today, the bowlers were coming in, the areas where they were running got deeper and deeper. We kind of knew what was going to happen.”

Allan Lamb, former England batsman: “The WICB must take full responsibility and the ICC should have called it off the day before the game because they should have got someone to run on the wicket. If it wasn't fit enough the day before the game, then it was never going to be ready on the day.”

Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket: “It's absolutely not good enough. It's desperately disappointing for everybody, particularly the people who have paid so much money to come over here. We really are thinking about them.”

Chris Gayle, West Indies captain: “It's embarrassing. I apologise to the spectators as well - it's a huge turnout and everybody wants to see cricket. It's really disappointing to see these things happen.”

Jonathan Agnew on Test Match Special: “It's difficult to know what the groundsmen can do, apart from get themselves down the garden centre, buy some turf and dig it in. I feel sorry for Sir Viv, he's distraught.”

Vic Marks, commentating: “We can rule out the possibility of playing a Test match here. If the bowlers can't find their run-ups today, they won't be able to do so on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.”