Cricket Sweet Cricket

My great Island Home is currently, as in right this very moment hosting 8 matches, AND the Grand Final of The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024!

Until June 29th

Still considered our National Sport, Cricket finds its local headquarters at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, one of the most impressive cricket grounds in the Caribbean and the world. It was established in 1882, evolved into a modern stadium, became the third most favoured ground for Test Matches; and now, over the past six (6) months has been elevated to a State of the Art multipurpose sporting and events venue.

With its rich history, picturesque setting, and passionate cricket fans Kensington Oval can now also be known as our signature statement that we mean to do business on a much higher scale.

Frangipani/Pagoda Tree

A glimpse of 1st match, Namibia vs Oman: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/BBLSf7uvX5FUZYdB/

The 1st ball of this 1st match resulted in the 1st wicket on this new pitch, taken by Rueben Templemann of Namibia.

Today rain stopped play it the England vs Scotland match just as Scotland was getting the upper hand. Some people still enjoyed the day though: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7zZIc2NeNC/?hl=en Let’s pray that the ^Sun will rise over Kensington Oval from now on. 🙂

Introduced by the British at the beginning of the 19th century Cricket’s roots within our history shows just how strong a culture it is within our blood; especially given the Legends that grew out of our soil. World class Cricketers like Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Wes Hall, Desmond Haynes, Joel ‘Big Bird’ Garner, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weeks, Malcolm Marshall, Sir C.Gordon Greenidge, Sir Frank Worrell, Charlie Griffith, ……….who are ranked among the greatest in the world. Perhaps this is why our Ambassador said in this Guardian.co.tt interview: “The socio-cultural development of Barbados was based on cricket – cricket is at the core of everything that we do and everything that we’ve ever excelled in in this country…”

The rich contribution that Barbados has made to international cricket can never be denied, as neither can the contribution that it has made to our visibility and standing in the world arena.

Cricket, sweeeet Cricket!

Some Cricket Books:

Atherthon’s Progress: From Kensington Oval to Kennington Oval (1996) Keith Booth

The Haywards: The Biography of a Cricket Dynasty (2018) Keith & Jennifer Booth

Cricket Nurseries of Colonial Barbados: The Elite Schools, 1865-1966 (1998) Keith Sandiford

Fatty Batter, (2008) Michael Simkins

Cricket Legends: 20 Inspiring Biographies For Kids, (2023) Lunar Press