By Andrew Hughes www.cricinfo.com
Heat, rage and yet more defeat.
There have to be more games in Dominica. In contrast to some of the windswept new constructions we have seen elsewhere in the Caribbean, which appear to have been thrown up on marshland in the most inhospitable parts of the island, this was a beautiful locale, surely challenging the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala as the most stunning cricket venue in the world. The camera spent as much time lingering over the tree-carpeted mountains and the port of Roseau as it did pointing at the cricket.
And there was a full house. It took time for the ground to fill up, but then this was Sunday and there was church business to attend to. But by the time Chanderpaul had dropped anchor, the ground was full of parasol-wielding Dominicans, fanning themselves with scorecards and, away from the well-behaved stands, dancing, singing and causing a racket with a range of musical instruments, from a wheezy trombone to what appeared to be a small plastic horn attached to a length of garden hose.
It looked furiously hot out there. The occasional shots of the interior of the island, particularly the ice-cool emerald pool and the teeming waterfalls, were a welcome relief from watching all that perspiration. The South African jerseys appeared to be a mottled affair in three shades: dark green, light green and sweaty green. For a while Jacques Kallis, standing motionless at slip, reminded me of nothing so much as an enormous overfed lizard basking in the sun.
Chris Gayle doesn’t sweat, of course, but he was fuming. How can you tell? It is all in the angle of the head. Experienced Gayle watchers have learned to spot by the inclination of the Gayle cranium whether he is ecstatic with joy or about to strangle someone with his bare hands. Sulieman Benn, unfortunately, has not picked up this useful skill, and so when he refused to bowl around the wicket as outside his competence, he was informed by his captain that his services were no longer required.
Was he within his rights? Is this an anti-Barbadian stance? Or is it just the kind of thing that happens when it is just too damn hot and you’re losing 0-4? The heat gets people riled up, makes them want to lash out. During the course of the afternoon’s play, even the Bish became irritated and, temporarily abandoning his lofty perch of judgement, came down into the valley, fists swinging as he railed against administrators, players, selectors and everyone who has played their part in achieving the squalid status quo.
As ever when these Titans of Caribbean Cricket thunder their condemnation, it was hard to disagree, but equally hard to see what is going to change. The talent is there, it forces its way through, and there are plenty more like Darren Bravo and Adrian Barath. But when these talented youngsters get to the top, just as with England in the nineties, they find they are on their own. When the best thing to have happened to West Indies cricket in the last decade is a Texan fraudster with delusions of grandeur, then the writing is on the wall.
On Sunday the gods of cricket even played a nasty little trick on the home side, luring them into believing that they might, despite their jaded fielding and slow-motion batting, be able to win after all. The crowd, desperate to see a home win, delayed their exit. Incredibly, South Africa still needed one to win off the final ball. Then the inevitable misfield, fumble and act of frustration, as Bravo gave the stumps a good smack. The people of Dominica sighed and mundane normality was returned. They deserve better. They may have to wait a while.
U love our country? u love our stadium? u will come again? WELL THANK YOUUU!!
Save the best for last…….. we built our stadium last and it really is the best…………. I am proud of my conntry (Dominica made me PROUD)
There’s this one commentator, who,must just stand and gaze at the river. He thinks it’s just incredible to have a “clean” river flowing right next to the stadium. And the others well, there are just overly impressed with the scenery. And i know what i am talking about. It’s not so much the structure, stupid, it’s the scenery. Now let’s just thank God that our country is the most beautiful in the world and do all we can to protect her.
Yes yes yes we have them good job mr pm. The eye have it
read the article…. it talks about the scenery of Dominica not the stadium….. geezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I feel proud to be a Dominican when these reviews are made. Well done organizers of these cricket games. I must say though that the information about the stadium was a little bit misleading in giving the impression that it is the best in the region in terms of structure.
What makes the stadium outstanding is the locaton of the park. The beauty of the mountains, the lush greenery, the view this makes it simply beautiful for lack of better words. To be honest i have been to a few other stadium which a more beautiful in terms of structure and settings but none to compare to dominica in terms of scenery. The winsor park gives you the sense of peace and relaxation while you enjoy a good game of cricket. If you are bored of the game there is something to look at someting to enjoy. Although there is much still to be improved i must say well done Dominica. If parking and accomodation can be fully taken care of i believe we can be one of the top venues in the world.
I live in Antigua and I must say that Our stadium is even better than theres, we need to expand on out accomodations and our Airport, it’s a perfect opportunity so that we can pull more tourists as possible, we need more international spectators in Dominica , LIAT cannot do it alone we need internztional carriers.
Thanks Espn, thanks Chinese Government, and thank God for Skeritt.
Dominican to the bone and to my fellow islanders take a bow we deserve it. Hip Hip Hip………………
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Well done skero i sat watchin and was so proud to see our isles from the eyes of others.PROUD!PROUD! PROUD!
A very well writing piece..quite engaging….im no fan of cricket but I mus say I enjoyed the commentary…i only wish the organizers had taken the teams to Screws…
lets face it!!!!! the stadium is not the best the location is what that has made it stand out!!!!
thanks to rooservelt skeritt and the chinese!!!!!!!!
it was my first time at the new stadium and i must say it was even better than i imagined. Great job Dominica, we have it in us, this is step one. Instead of being negative all the time we should try to be a little more positive, i for one expect Dominica to be a leader in the next ten or so years in the caribbean. We can do it Dominica, let us start believing in ourselves.
Well done Dominica. It’s about time the world woke up to your natural beauty and beautiful people.
So one man’s opinion is taken as gospel fact? WIndsor Park may be a nice venue, but to say it is the most stunning in the world is a bit of a stretch.
Wow are you that stupid or are you just a hater?! U’re going to hate on your own country getting some positive reviews?? Really? why???!!!
Only a total idiot would interprete it as being ‘gospel fact’ you fool. Anyone with half a brain would realize that ESPN is the biggest sports network in the world, so a glowing approval of the grounds is good promo for the country!!
Silly idiot, cricket fans from around the world will read this and consider coming to Dominica the next time their team is playing in the Caribbean.
Also…..we see our scenery everyday so you can’t expect it to have the same visual impact on us as to a person who is coming to Dominica for the first time!! Jeez!!!
PS. sorry for all the name-calling but you really deserved it my friend. stop the god-damn negativity.
WELL SAID THANK YOU
I agree
Bravo!
PIPER YOU NOT EASY WE GETTING PROPS AND SO YOU ACTING NA MAN ALL YOU IS REALLY DUMB-IN-CANS eh
Well said Anti-hate… but i would disagree with you on 1 thing…. i see the scenery everyday and trust me it had the same visual impact on me as it might have had on a foreigner…. Water came down my eyes when i heard the way the commentators kept talking about Dominica. A Real proud moment for REAL DOMINICANS
Have you seen other cricket stadiums other than Dominica’s? The Stadium in Dominica is the most ADVANCED CRICKET STADIUM IN THE CARIBBEAN if u didn’t know and yes it gives others else where alot of competition due to its location and scenery. Why hate? nothing to hate about you well BLUE VEX.
@Anti-hate YOU ON POINT! It is peope who never travel or seen other places that would say something stupid like that. Everyday they seeing Paradise so they think everywhere else is the same They need to get out more.
I’m not a huge fan of cricket, but I’m very proud to learn that once again the beauty of Dominica have captured another title. Dominicans, let’s keep our country clean and green. It’s worth it.
Ooohhhhhh I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is my type of writing.. I would swear I wrote… only… he/she wrote it better. lol. Nice.
Where Party Meets Cricket
Yay us!!!!
This title of this story is misleading somewhat. Is the writer commenting on the stadium or on the West Indies Team?
both
This type of free advertising is truly welcome and should reap huge rewards for Dominica. Dominica and Dominicans have every reason to be proud. Dominica is certainly moving ahead on the international stage.