Cricket came to Guyana during the colonial era and quickly became beloved. The West Indies cricket team — which draws players from Guyana and many other Caribbean islands — has been one of the most celebrated and successful cricket teams in history. In the 1970s and 1980s, the West Indies were the best team in the world, and Guyanese players were part of that golden era.
Guyana's National Cricket Stadium in Georgetown is the home ground for international matches. When the West Indies play there, the stadium becomes a carnival — fans bring drums, blow whistles, wave flags and dress in the team colours of maroon and gold. The noise is extraordinary. Playing cricket in front of a West Indian home crowd is said to be one of the most exciting experiences in sport.
Cricket is a game of deep skill and patience. A match can last up to five days — the longest form of team sport in the world. Shorter versions called T20 (twenty overs per side) are more like a sprint, full of big hitting and excitement. Both forms are played with great passion in Guyana. Children learn the basic techniques — how to hold a bat, how to bowl — in PE lessons from an early age.
Clive Lloyd, one of the greatest cricket captains ever, is from Georgetown, Guyana. He led the West Indies to back-to-back World Cup victories in 1975 and 1979 — the first two ever held. He is a national hero and his name is known throughout the cricketing world. Young Guyanese cricketers grow up hearing his story.