The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua has been banned from hosting international cricket for at least a year by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in order to allow remedial works to be carried out.

Last month, a Test match between the West Indies and England was abandoned after just 10 balls due to the condition of the stadium's outfield, which was described in an ICC report as unfit. Extensive remedial works will now be undertaken by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to bring the venue up to required standards, although it will have to pass an ICC inspection before it can be used for international cricket, which will take place no earlier than 16 March 2010.

The ICC's general manager for cricket, David Richardson, said: "The abandoned Test match was an embarrassment to the local authorities in Antigua, to West Indies cricket in general, and to the international game as a whole. "The image of the game and the integrity of our sport cannot afford to have such farcical scenes play out as they did on the first morning of the match. Steps must be taken to ensure that it never happens again."