Wednesday 28th February 2007
Clarence Hiles reports from the Caribbean...
The new Kensington Oval has now been officially opened by the great Sir Garfield Sobers, and it looks magnificent albeit with a few touches here and there to complete. And after some 15,000 happy revellers returned home from a carnival day of calypso and golden-oldies cricket, Barbados didn't have to wait too long for the teams to arrive with Scotland leading the way on Tuesday, nine teams coming on Thursday including Ireland, and a couple on Friday including the mighty England.
The buzz is really starting to take effect all across the region and while some of the grounds and road works may not ever reach 100% completion, everything will be OK on the day in a way that is uniquely Caribbean. Yes, there'll be plenty of intense competitive cricket, but this is going to be as much a celebration of Caribbean lifestyle as competitive sport, and spectators better be prepared to party as this will be party time in the Caribbean.
That's cool man, real cool!
