Not too little ... but perhaps too late

The Ireland team have only just received thousands of good luck cards and messages sent to them nearly a month ago, following their victory against Pakistan. In the wake of their victory, the southern postal service offered free postage to anyone who sent a message out to the Caribbean.

The post arrived in Jamaica just after the team had left for Guyana and then arrived in Guyana just after the Irish players had left for Barbados. The messages, then, have come just as Ireland have been on the receiving end of a few pastings.

Nevertheless, the volume and sentiment has been impressive. "It's been remarkable," says the manager Roy Torrens. "But what's more remarkable is that I understand only half the mail has been delivered so far..."