Scotch and tonic and plenty of advice
Lots of rain, lots of entertainment, lots of noise
Sanjeev Datadin
04-May-2010
Gayle: a brief explosion before the rain • Getty Images
The game
I'm a big cricket fan and love live cricket. I'm also a box-holder at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. This match promised a good old-fashioned rivalry between England and West Indies. Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard were in good nick after the IPL, as were Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan.
I'm a big cricket fan and love live cricket. I'm also a box-holder at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. This match promised a good old-fashioned rivalry between England and West Indies. Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard were in good nick after the IPL, as were Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan.
Team supported
West Indies. I've been a fan since my father took me to see India v West Indies at Bourda, Georgetown in 1983.
West Indies. I've been a fan since my father took me to see India v West Indies at Bourda, Georgetown in 1983.
Key performer
Morgan played an excellent innings. So did Gayle and Luke Wright. But because of the rain delays, the DJ turned out to be the key performer of the day.
Morgan played an excellent innings. So did Gayle and Luke Wright. But because of the rain delays, the DJ turned out to be the key performer of the day.
One thing I'd have changed
To have no rain. England were a bit hard done by, and the crowd was robbed of some entertainment. It would have been interesting to watch a West Indies batting line-up of Gayle, Pollard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo chase 192.
To have no rain. England were a bit hard done by, and the crowd was robbed of some entertainment. It would have been interesting to watch a West Indies batting line-up of Gayle, Pollard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo chase 192.
Face-off I relished
Gayle v Sidebottom. Given all the talk about left-arm quicks against Gayle, I was interested to see how the contest with Sidebottom would pan out. Gayle took him for 15 in the first over. To be fair, the first boundary was off the edge, but as a spectator shouted out immediately after that boundary, "He paid for the whole bat… edge included."
Gayle v Sidebottom. Given all the talk about left-arm quicks against Gayle, I was interested to see how the contest with Sidebottom would pan out. Gayle took him for 15 in the first over. To be fair, the first boundary was off the edge, but as a spectator shouted out immediately after that boundary, "He paid for the whole bat… edge included."
Shot of the day
Craig Kieswetter smacked Ravi Rampaul over long-off to scatter the cheerleaders right below where I was sitting. But the shot of the day was Chanderpaul's switch hit for six off Graeme Swann. The noise that followed was deafening.
Craig Kieswetter smacked Ravi Rampaul over long-off to scatter the cheerleaders right below where I was sitting. But the shot of the day was Chanderpaul's switch hit for six off Graeme Swann. The noise that followed was deafening.
Player watch
Darren Sammy was cheered every time he touched the ball, no doubt because of his heroics against Ireland. It helped that he took two wickets when England were on the charge. Since it was Guyana, hometown boy Chanderpaul was inundated with advice and comments every time he came to field below where I was sitting.
Darren Sammy was cheered every time he touched the ball, no doubt because of his heroics against Ireland. It helped that he took two wickets when England were on the charge. Since it was Guyana, hometown boy Chanderpaul was inundated with advice and comments every time he came to field below where I was sitting.
Crowd meter
The stadium was packed. It was so loud, you could not hear your own phone ring, much less anyone you were trying to speak to. Horns, beach shells, whistles, thunder sticks, tassa drums and the steel pans contributed to the noise. Then, of course, there was the typical Guyana crowd, shouting all sorts of advice and remarks to the players. It was loudest when the umpires came out to inspect the conditions after a prolonged rain delay and approaching darkness; there was definitely no shortage of encouragement to bring the players back out to continue the game.
The stadium was packed. It was so loud, you could not hear your own phone ring, much less anyone you were trying to speak to. Horns, beach shells, whistles, thunder sticks, tassa drums and the steel pans contributed to the noise. Then, of course, there was the typical Guyana crowd, shouting all sorts of advice and remarks to the players. It was loudest when the umpires came out to inspect the conditions after a prolonged rain delay and approaching darkness; there was definitely no shortage of encouragement to bring the players back out to continue the game.
The spectators stayed through the heavy and prolonged downpour. The Providence is a semi-open stadium and many patrons were simply standing, or dancing, in the rain.
It was amazing to hear what sounded like every spectator screaming "wiiddde" every time and English bowler bowled a wide.
A new discovery
In our box the very unusual (at least in these parts) drink of scotch and tonic became the order of the day. I think I might stay with this one for a while.
In our box the very unusual (at least in these parts) drink of scotch and tonic became the order of the day. I think I might stay with this one for a while.
Entertainment
Plenty. There was chutney, soca, reggae, dancehall, and even some 80s hits. The live artists were average and sounded as if they were screaming into the microphone at times. There were cheerleaders perched on stages around the ground, tassa drummers, and colourfully costumed assortments of characters carrying a kind of horn, who provided their own brand of loud entertainment during any slight break in an over.
Plenty. There was chutney, soca, reggae, dancehall, and even some 80s hits. The live artists were average and sounded as if they were screaming into the microphone at times. There were cheerleaders perched on stages around the ground, tassa drummers, and colourfully costumed assortments of characters carrying a kind of horn, who provided their own brand of loud entertainment during any slight break in an over.
Banner of the day
There were no banners up around the ground; a consequence of the stadium being sanitised in the name of ambush marketing. There was a t-shirt with a picture of Kieron Pollard smacking the ball, with the caption, "Polly what a cracker!"
There were no banners up around the ground; a consequence of the stadium being sanitised in the name of ambush marketing. There was a t-shirt with a picture of Kieron Pollard smacking the ball, with the caption, "Polly what a cracker!"
Marks out of 10
8. Plenty of rain, but also plenty of music, dancing, unusual drinks and great atmosphere.
8. Plenty of rain, but also plenty of music, dancing, unusual drinks and great atmosphere.
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