The first overseas cricket tour I ever watched on television was West Indies v England from 1998. Sabina Park, Jamaica - where Mike Atherton, Alec Stewart, Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe all received some sickening blows.
That series I saw some fantastic cricket on Sky Sports, friendly atmosphere in the crowd and some beautiful beaches when Sky did the island snap-shot. It had been a big ambition of mine to watch cricket in the West Indies ever since.
And my two-week trip to see the Barbados and Trinidad tests certainly did not disappoint - even if the cricket was less than riveting.
Barbados was particularly good - a stunning island that has just too many superlatives. Beautiful beaches, incredibly friendly people and a real passion for cricket. Oh, and drinking rum...
Trinidad may have been a little disappointing (less touristy, people less friendly and less to do) but at least the Queen's Park Oval was a lovely ground. The Queen's Park Oval is just how cricket grounds should be. Modernised but still kept their old facades. It was great to be able to sit on the grass bank behind the bowler's arm all day.
I will certainly be going back to the West Indies. Even if it is not in a working capacity, there are few better places to watch cricket.
Tuesday 24 March 2009
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