HOWZAT FOR AN UTTER SHAMBLES?

THE London Stadium is barely set up for football on occasions, so it is certainly not suitable for cricket. The conversion costs are extraordinary and time-consuming and it is no surprise that, after much talk, it has failed to make the list of venues for the Cricket World Cup. The organisers dreamed of making use of its 60,000 capacity for matches between England and Australia and India and Pakistan, but ball park estimates of £8million to remove seats, turf over the running track and install a drop-in pitch have ended that. One by one, the bold plans are going by the wayside. The NFL will make its home at White Hart Lane, maybe even Wembley, and there are many alternatives for big concerts in London, with more coming once Tottenham and Chelsea open their new arenas. Increasingly, the Olympics venue (above), hampered as it was at the planning stage by slow thinkers from the world of politics, looks the most cumbersome, clanking venue, turning around between events like an ocean-going liner, submitting its conversion bill like the most shameless cowboy builder. It has one chance of viability, as a football ground, capable of holding the odd summer concert. Any attempts to salvage this mess should acknowledge that, before it is too late.