More Windies

Friday 26 February



Lazy morning playing in the pool and doing some washing. First match tonight so keeping out of the sun as much as possible to conserve energy for playing later. Snack lunch round the pool and then into less formal uniform of navy walk shorts and white polos to go and watch the Zimbabwe cricket team playing a warm up game. We were treated like royalty and given special seats under a big sun shade with liptons ice tea - raspberry flavoured - for refreshment. It was an exciting game which went to the last ball with the Zimbabwe team just managing to scrape a win.

We then changed into warm up kit and were given an air conditioned hall to warm up in and then some outside nets to get used to the lights which we were playing under. I had been selected to play the game which was a twenty over game. We were using pink balls so it was quite a memorable match - first under lights and first with the pink ball. Unfortunately the Trinidad and Tobago team were far too strong for us and we lost very badly. We only scored 56 runs and they got them very easily in about 12 overs. I was not required to bowl or bat and I managed to successfully field the balls that came to me. There was a large crowd watching and we were astonished by how excited they all got and how loud they were. The team were very despondant after the game but we had to buck ourselves up and forget the game and think of tomorrow. Another day and another game.



Saturday 27 February



Up early, but still managed a swim before breakfast and on to the coach to travel to the National Cricket Centre for a one day game. It was about an hour away from where we are staying. It had been decided that I would be manager for this game and not take part in the play. It was extremely hot when we arrived and the pitch was very large and much browner and dustier than we are used to. We had our photos taken in our suits and then while the teanm warmed up, I chatted to the opposition manager/coach and other officials about the tour and what we expected from it. There had been so much media hype about the tour and one or two things had got out of perspective and our reason for being here was getting lost. We are here to promote and develope cricket, not just to play matches where winning is important. We are also here on tour so should have some enjoyment as well. I decided one way to break the ice and foster friendly relations was to split the teams up at lunch and we would mix and match. We played a lot better in this game and took wickets and contained their runs. The 12th man and myself used a lot of energy running onto the pitch with drinks every half hour and taking ice around to fielders to cool their hands. Lunch was very pleasant, and the teams started to interact. After lunch we were batting so I was not needed to run on with water. Our liason officer had invited his family to come and watch and they had a car boot full of cold drinks. I was treated to 'Trinidad Coke ' or so we told my team. It consisted of a very pleasant mix of dark rum, angostura bitters and lime. It was very refreshing !! We unfortunately lost this game as well but we played much better and it was an enjoyable day. We were very tired and dusty so came back to the hotel to swim but Bev (the captain) and I got a phone call saying we were to go to the local radio station for a live interview. We jumped in a taxi and off we went. We met 2 of the Trinidad management team there and had an interview with all four of us together. It was great fun and we laughed a lot. Back to the hotel where the team were waiting to go out for a meal. It was just down the road so we walked to it and although we had to wait ages for the food, it was good when it arrived.



Sunday 28 February



The big day has arrived !! This is the day that we are to play at 'The Queen's Oval' ground as the warm up game before the Zimbabwe team play the West Indies Team. It is a twenty over game wearing coloured clothing and using a pink ball. It was a very early start - 07 30 - so no time for a swim today. Again I have to do my Manager's Job so no playing for me. I am a little disappointed about this but I am here as mManager so this is my priority. We arrived at the ground and were directed by security to our changing rooms. We were in our suits, so had the usual team photo. I was going to join the team in the warm up but at the last minute I had to change into our semi smarts as I was to spend the match in the media centre with the scorers so that I could identify our team members for them. I had absolutely the best seats in the ground, and was sitting with Colin Croft, an ex West Indies player,but I would have preferred to be down with the team amongst the atmosphere. Trinidad and Tobago batted first and we played well today and took all their wickets just before the twenty overs was up. Our Captain Bev took 5 wickets and was also involved in 2 run outs. ( She was later voted player of the match)Lesley, our 12th man did a grand job of runnig out onto the pitch with drinks. Unfortunately our batsmen did not do so well and again we lost the game but it was a great match. We were taken over to lunch and then back to the afternoon match at which we were guests. The seats we had been allocated were behind the dug outs so although we were able to be close to the teams we could not see the match very well, so we sat there while the teams ran out and then moved. It was a very exciting start and a wicket fell on the very first ball. Zimbabwe were 3 - 0 (they had lost three wickets and scored no runs) but they recovered and went on to score just over a hundred runs. During the West Indies innings, some of the girls wanted to go into the 'noisy stand'. This was a stand with music and dancers and looked a lot of fun, but was ticket only. Somehow we manged to get in there and were able to join in. The West Indies somehow managed to lose the game and just before the end we moved back to our official seats so that we could meet the two teams. When it came time to leave, the four teams left at about the same time so we felt very special as we walked through the car park with security keeping back the crowd. Back to the hotel to relax in the pool after what has been a very special day indeed.