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West Indies - A Tour in the Sun By Paul Henriksen (Henry) - West Indies 2003
Travelling to the Caribbean is a dream most have and for those who get the opportunity it is definitely a surprising experience.
We all arrived in Antigua safely after a long flight from Australia. Some people on arrival were quite tired, while many others were simply looking forward to kick starting the tour with the greeting party at Richie Richardson's bar on the beach - Lashings.
I was on the third AST tour that included the Antigua Test and five One Day Internationals. Upon our arrival in Antigua the Sir Frank Worrell Test series had been dominated by Australia as they led 3-0. The Australians were out to make cricketing history as the first ever team to win 4-0 in the Caribbean, however you just got the feeling that this Test was going to be special in many ways. On the eve of the Test, the West Indies Cricket Board named their Hall of Fame members at the luxurious Sticky Wicket complex; names we are all synonymous with such as Sobers, Holding, Richards and Headley all appointed and memorialised for their efforts.
The Antiguan Recreation Ground is a historical place in itself, being home to the fastest ever test century by Sir Vivian Richards as well as Brian Lara's record score of 375. The atmosphere was loud but friendly, with many Australians there to cheer on the visitors. Tour members, Jo, Tiff and Jacinta got to know bar owner Ginger fairly well early on in the piece, and Chickies disco, the party posse grandstands, Carib girls dancing, and hundreds of whistles all added to the incredible atmosphere.
For once, lunch breaks at the cricket were highlights and two tour members, Jazz and DD actually got rewarded for being great Aussies supporters and invited into a super box during the game, sitting with non other than legends of the game, Courtney Walsh and Clive Lloyd. The Test was nothing short of sensational, a great game of cricket, with wickets, centuries and loads of tension.
With two days to go you would have thought it would be just a matter of time before Australia would win, however the word was out in St. Johns that the Windies were once again in with a chance, as the home side crowd expanded on the west side of the ground. The Windies did it and created history by achieving the greatest ever run chase in their second innings. At the end of the Test everyone, including the players, moved on to "Lashings", where players and spectators mingle listening to the reggae of Richardson's and Curtly Ambrose's band. In all, an incredible night and very memorable Test.
Before we left Antigua, our Thursday sailing excursion on the "Jolly Roger Pirate ship" will go down as a major highlight of the tour. Tour characters, Billy and Rob were shaking some dances moves, while most of us had a turn at walking the plank to the tunes and beverages of the Caribbean, it was a great day.
It was then off to Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, for the One-day series. The only way we could get to the ground was with a police convoy, a safety measure to get us to the hotel and cricket on time and in one piece. The trumpets around the ground were deafening and entry into the ground was fairly scary after the relaxing feel of Antigua. The two games were full of atmosphere; trumpets and whistles were owned by just about everyone and you knew without looking when there was a wicket or a boundary. There is a swimming pool at the ground, (yes a swimming pool) and fans during a rain delay could go for a leisurely run on the ground (seemingly only if you were a visitor).
Australia took out the first game with some help from the Duckworth-Lewis system of revising totals. The second game was a very slow run chase which Australia achieved to go 2-0 up before we headed to St.Lucia. There was a running battle between Mark Waugh, our tour host, who had suggested that it would be a 4-3 win in the series to Australia, while for John and Karl they could see nothing but 7-0 Australia's way.
Castries, St.Lucia has a new oval and stands built by the Chinese business sector, all in readiness for the 2007 World Cup. A very nice place to be, and you were greeted with a country town like atmosphere. Michael Clarke to everyone's delight got his chance and played very well, while the Windies crumbled under the expectation of the crowd and themselves. Would we see Lara at his best in any of these one-dayers? The 4WD excursion around the island of St Lucia was great, the medicinal purposes of the coconut really had some effect, as Sam "The Man" and Ernie really enjoyed their guides.
Heading to the double header in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the Australians were confident. In the first game, Gilchrist batted well and again the Windies fell apart to be 4-0 down in the series. Ironically, the electronic scoreboard stopped when Lara was just dismissed for 40, many of us thinking the attendant had gone home.
By the way if you're hungry at any of these grounds there is chicken, chicken, chicken, rice and a little bit of goat available.
The second game saw the West Indies win the toss and bat, and bat they did amassing a very good total of 290, for the first time in the series the Aussies were under siege. Lara's team achieved a victory and Brian threw a party for both teams and some others that was by all reports sensational.
Our tour farewell party was great as our guest Larry Gomes was interviewed by Mark and the renditions of the song "Passion" went late in to the night. Sammy handed over his traditional Jamaican horn to a passionate on-looker and it was time to end the tour. The series finished in Grenada with the Australians taking the series 4-3.
The West Indies was truly an experience, with many fond memories, the Caribbean have the World Cup for 2007, so it will be once again the focus of the world. | 
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