Young gun Graeme Swann put the old Masters to sword

YOUNG gun Graeme Swann put the old Masters to the sword as cricket calypso style thrilled the crowd at the Grenada National Stadium.

Loud speakers belted out reggae tunes as the County beat the Masters XI by seven wickets against the backdrop of thousands of dancing schoolchildren, who were given the day off by their teachers.

Swann thrilled the sizeable crowd hitting 11 fours and three sixes in his 73-ball 89, and brought up his 50 with an audacious six off Joel Garner. And the Towcester twirler even showed off his dancing skills, delighting the crowd with his reggae jiving.

The Swann brothers opened the batting for the County as they chased 156 for victory, after Paul Taylor and Devon Malcolm had decimated a top order which once struck fear into every Englishman.

Taylor accounted for Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge, before Malcolm removed Gus Logie and Irving Shillingford with consecutive deliveries. Former West Indies skipper Ritchie Richardson hit 50 and ex-County skipper Allan Lamb joined in the fun by batting at number 11. Sir Viv Richards had pulled out at the last minute disappointing the Grenadian crowd.

"I looked at the scoreboard and realised I was on 44 at the start of Garner's over, and I planned to hit him for six to get my 50. When I was batting with my brother he said to me it was a bit like batting against the cricket videos of our childhood. It was a great opportunity to play against some names from the past and it was a great experience," Swann said.

"The kids made it a great atmosphere and all the lads really enjoyed playing in this game. I was disappointed Viv Richards wasn't playing but it was still a great opportunity to play against guys like Greenidge, Haynes and Logie ."

Haynes set out his stall early by depositing Taylor for six over the square leg boundary in the third over, but the former England man had the last laugh dismissing the openers.

"We took the game fairly seriously and Desmond Haynes proved he can still play Test cricket with a couple shots off PT.

"We bowled well and got a few early wickets which took the sting out of the game a little bit. The crowd came to see some runs but our boys bowled well and deserved their success."

Haynes said: "Many of the people here including the opposition expect us to be able to come out and play like we did 15 years ago. The thing is most of us haven't picked up a bat in years, and the fitness levels are not what they used to be."

The result of the match was never really in doubt but that mattered little with the Masters succeeding in their task of entertaining the youngsters and hopefully turning them into cricket fans. That is something which cricket in the West Indies desperately needs.

The day closed with a lovely touch from the PA announcer, "Now come on children it's past 4pm and your parents will want you home."

It was a long way from Wantage Road in every respect.