sightscreens at west indian cricket grounds are redundant – a panel of white that slides across a white wall. actually they are not sightscreens at all – they are digicel or scotiabank hoardings. when the bowling is from the opposite end ads are displayed. this makes them no longer redundant.
jet planes flew in fancy formations over the ground, fireworks exploded, calypso bands marched and danced and dancers from all nations spread out across the field in intricate patters – the build up to the first ball was immense. when all the action ceased and the umpire called PLAY! men in white stood around, walked here and there. a couple of them wore black trousers and they walked up and down and waved their arms around a bit. a group of men gathered around the sightscreen behind the bowler and stared at the white boards. some of them tried in vain to push it. more and more men gathered there and even some of the white clad and perhaps also the ones in the dark trousers walked over to stare at it too. another white clad man ran out onto the gorund with some drinks for a couple of the others. 15 minutes after the end of the ceremony the first ball was finally bowled. beckett loved cricket.
once things got under way the action was zinging – balls flying over batsman’s heads, and over the leaping keepers glove. this pitch had bounce and fidel was determined to use it. if you squinted your eyes you could imagine you were watching the west indies of legend. batsmen were ducking and swaying and getting caught on the hook or the pull. jaques hussey katich all out to the short one that bounced a little more a little faster than they would have enjoyed.
with lee coming to the crease the intesity of the short pitched bowling went up even yet another notch. lee has wonderful silver stickers on his bat but it werent flashing too much out there this afternoon. fidel v lee is the battle to watch in international cricket at the moment. even if only to see lee duck n weave and take the pain. occassionally he’ll smash one away or slash one through the gully. ah god i love it. then it rained