Cricket is played between two teams of eleven players on a large oval field. At the centre is a rectangular strip called the pitch, where a bowler runs in and delivers the ball at a batter standing in front of three wooden stumps called the wicket. The batter tries to hit the ball and score runs by running between the two ends of the pitch. A game can last anything from one afternoon to five whole days in the longest format.
The West Indies team — representing Caribbean nations including Saint Vincent — has a long and celebrated history in international cricket. In the 1970s and 1980s, the West Indies were world champions, winning the Cricket World Cup back-to-back in 1975 and 1979. Players from tiny islands just like Saint Vincent have gone on to become some of the sport's greatest ever names.
In Saint Vincent, children play cricket everywhere — in parks, on beaches, in back yards, even in narrow streets using a dustbin as a wicket and whatever bat comes to hand. Schools hold inter-school tournaments, and villages challenge each other on weekends. Vincentians of all ages follow the West Indies team passionately, gathering around televisions and radios to follow every match.
Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in Kingstown hosted matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which was partly held in the Caribbean. Having a world-class cricket ground means Saint Vincent can host international matches and welcome visiting teams from England, Australia, India and beyond — bringing the world to this small island nation.