Spice Island bouncing back
Grenada - There are a handful of places in the world I’ve developed a soft spot for moments after arriving for the first time - New York, Havana and New Zealand’s South Island.
Now I can add Grenada - the "Spice Island" - to that list.
This may not have the cricketing heritage of the other countries hosting World Cup matches – only three men have represented the West Indies from here (Junior Murray, Rawl Lewis and Devon Smith).
And it is not a massively popular tourist destination either, although you get the impression the locals are not panicking about that.
But after the poor condition of Antigua’s roads, it was sheer bliss knowing we could make the five-mile journey from the airport to our hotel in, wait for it, 10 minutes.
There is charm, rugged beauty and friendliness in spades all around you with the pretty capital St George's framed by volcanoes in the distance.
Modern developments sit comfortably alongside magnificent old buildings - in an island ravaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Indeed, there is no escaping the role mother nature has had in the history of this place: my hotel guide has six pages on what to in emergencies such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
Talking to people here, estimates vary between 80-95% of the repair work following Ivan having been completed.
Certainly, to the naked eye, St George’s and its surrounding areas look in fine fettle and there are some simply breathtaking views when you drive up the steep hills and look down at Port Louis Marina.
The British developer Peter de Savary is overseeing a £300m regeneration project which will transform the area.
One of the symbols of the way this island has bounced back from adversity is the National Stadium, which was destroyed in 2004 but now looks simply majestic.
With ticket prices reduced and restrictions on musical instruments lifted, we could have a cracking atmosphere for the crunch Super 8 game between the hosts and South Africa.
Both teams have faced criticism after recent performances and you feel Windies skipper Brian Lara will come under even more pressure if his team loses – which would almost certainly mean elimination from the tournament.
England must certainly be hoping that the Windies can pull off a win over a, hopefully, disheartened, South Africa, as this would reduce the pressure on England!
It would also make the competion that much more interesting for the local supporters, bringing more of them into watch the matches.
Complain about this postPrices reduced and instruments allowed? Sounds like someone in charge has finally woken up to the problems...
Complain about this posti still question south africas world cup squad that was selected for cricket world cup.
Firstly why was only one back up batsmen chosen(loots bosman)? The reason i ask this is today that gibbs is 50/50 for the game who do SA turn to?
Why does smith still persist with justin kemp who hasnt contributed at all. Surely sa has better batsmen with the likes of dippenaar, rudolph,mckenzie that were ignored.
And thirdly and most importantly is why is robin peterson in the scored? okay, he played against sri lanka but what else has he contributed? he is SAs number one spinner, or is he???
SA cricket in shambles.. Goodbye CWC..
Complain about this postGrenada is beautiful, our University team toured there just in January. Had a look around the national stadium, I have a feeling there should be some large totals being racked up.
Complain about this postCould you get the BBC online team to show the interview with Curtly Ambrose and Richie Richardson, featured on the highlights programme last week? What we all want to see is more footage of Curtly playing the bass!!
Complain about this postengland have no chance they neva will with people sayin flintoffs the bst all rounder drop him they pik him agen afta a few matches find sum new openers m.loye he was amazing he got runs quik nd easy
Complain about this postIt is high time that England dropped Michael Vaughan !!! I said it in the beginning and I stand by it - I know England can never dare to do it so I pray that he performs ??
Abdulhamid Ismail
Complain about this postIt is high time that England dropped Michael Vaughan !!! I said it in the beginning and I stand by it - I know England can never dare to do it so I pray that he performs ??
Abdulhamid Ismail
Complain about this postI think you meant to say "freindlyness in buckets"?!?!?!?! Wally! (line 14)
Complain about this postI was fortunate to go as scorer on a school cricket tour to Grenada in the summer of 2005 - the first visiting team since the hurricane the year before. When we visited, the national stadium was still utterly unusable from the effects of the hurricane. The fact there was a (rather less destructive) hurricane/tropical storm (it was right on the boundary between the two) whilst we were there probably didn't help - it meant we missed a few matches certainly.
Complain about this postCouldn't agree more.
We're just back from a honeymoon in Grenada following Cricket and Wedding in St Lucia. The roads are bliss and the people are great.
Check out Nick's Doughnut place in Grand Anse - best coffee for miles around!
Oh, and regarding Cricket, England in St Lucia were BORING. Wish Mal Loye had been there and there was more atmosphere. Still sounds like the atmosphere part is being sorted now!
Complain about this postIf we could bat then we have a major chance against South Africa. But alas we have Michael Vaughan.
Complain about this postIt amazes me that he is still in the side. What has he brought to the England side? Apart from some well documented dicsipline! He gives us nothing with the ball and he is grossly out of form with the bat ...yet again the selectors are not brave enough to do something about it!! He should be made an example of..not because i dislike the man but i want to see England win...
I look forward to his next innings...3-5-maybe even double figures...I hope he proves me long because he cannot hide anymore!!
Joe, if you're going to get snippy about other people's English you ought to run a spellchecker. Nothing wrong with "friendliness in spades", unlike "freindliness" in anything.
Complain about this postHow is current run rate as shown on TV calculated? Is it current as in e.g. the last and current over, or the run rate so far?
Complain about this postAs a Grenadian, I was proud to see my friend and fellow Grenadian Devon Smith walk out proudly at the Queens Park Oval representing West Indies.
To little to late, what was Lara and the selectors trying to prove, because the game is played in Grenada he should play.he should be picked on merit
Why was he not playing before, I think he should have played against Ireland.
But in saying that Devon is a Test Player not a one day player, I hope the selectors remember that.
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