Welcome to paradise

From one cricket mad country to another, the Barmy Army bandwagon rolls on. But while India has its own charm in a crazy, polluted, rickshaw-laden way, Jamaica is laid back with a clean heat that makes you happy to be alive. And where the welcome of the Indians was an overexcited hyperactive one, here it's more of a laid back enthusiasm. "Welcome to paradise," as one of our hotel staff said to us this morning.

As you walk the streets cars beep a hello. The English cricket fans are in town and boy do we feel welcome. Compared to the dramas preceding the Indian tour, this seems simple, although in truth there was a different kind of drama as we arrived at Gatwick for our flight. While some people missed out on the India tour because of the rescheduling, some will miss the beginning of this one because of the good old British weather.

Rumour has it 120 people were missing of the Virgin flight to Kingston and most of those people were stuck on the M25 in gridlock traffic. Those of us who made it feel a little bit guilty. Before the main event the Barmy Army will play a team put together by the legend that is Courtney Walsh. Then it's into the main event.

I'll be writing missives on Cricinfo throughout the tour and if you check out the Barmy Army website at www.barmyarmy.com/calendar you can check out more details of what's going on in the stands every day.