Debasis Sen, Antigua: Amazingly beautiful Antigua provides the perfect backdrop of the first test match of the four match series between India and West Indies starting on Thursday. It’s difficult to find a word that describes Antigua best. Truly the Land of Sea and Sand, the island of Antigua and Barbuda welcomes Virat Kohli and his team as they embark on a grueling season ahead.
Nothing much has changed in this island when India last came here in 2011 when they played a couple of ODI’s. Except for the strict immigration policy which was not in place in 2011, the visitors are welcome in this beautiful island. The bio-metric test by the Immigration department is mandatory for the visitors coming in this island.
Nothing stays open apart from restaurants after five in the evening but the nights here are rumoured to be special because of a few clubs hosting some of the best exotic dancers in the Caribbean. In short, it’s a true getaway.
With the carnival taking place in the weekend, true the island will be alive and kicking. It’s easy to be swayed by Antigua’s laid-back take on life but cricket, especially the longer format, doesn’t seem to fit well here.
But one doubts about the turnout for the test match as there is not much hype surrounding the series. Instead as my taxi driver Anthony rightly puts it, “It’s all about T20 cricket and Caribbean Premier League which has won the hearts of the young generation.”
The fact that the hugely popular Caribbean Premier League is being held at the same time as a marquee series that is supposed to make up for an accidental snub in the past shows the place of Test cricket here. In fact, there is more genuine concern on how the weekend carnival would pass off.
The other worrying factor for the cricket officials in these parts of the world is the increasing popularity of basketball and baseball. According to Anthony, “The present generation are more inclined to playing basketball which is very much influenced by America which is just a few thousand miles away.”
A huge billboard declares the basketball court in front of it to be that of the Ovals Ojays team that has recently won the first division league here. So, come Thursday as we will get to know whether there will be much interest for the test series or not.