Football fever apparently has nothing on some Bajans’ love for cricket.
Even almighty Brazil in a World Cup knockout match couldn’t keep the Windies’ most loyal fans away from Kensington, as the Oval managed to enjoy a surprisingly encouraging day of crowd support for the third day of the New Zealand Test.
“I’m a football fan, yes, but I’m a West Indian at heart, so I believe this is where I should be,” reasoned Justin Browne.
“I don’t think I should be at home watching another country playing football when my nation is playing New Zealand in cricket.
“But I figured it would be this sort of turnout, even though I was still hoping for a few hundred more seeing as we had a few Bajans in the team.
“I come to the cricket regardless, though, as I try to stay away from the insularity and support whoever puts on the maroon,” he added.
It was the popular sentiment echoed all across the historic venue, which saw close to 3 000 spectators taking in action at Kensington’s 50th Test.
Though nowhere near the sell-out crowds of the 1970s, ’80s or even ’90s, that crowd support proved pleasantly surprising, considering the recent dwindling numbers at Test cricket, coupled with the fact that the Test was switched from Guyana at the last minute.
And yet the world’s most popular sport had to settle for being No. 2 in Fontabelle.
“Even though I love football, it’s cricket that I truly love because it is my thing,” said Noel Burnham.
“Nothing is stopping me from coming to the Oval unless I am broke, but the tickets are cheap, so once I’m not working I’m going to be down here to support my team.”
But the World Cup still had its moment and share of followers at Kensington – a point duly acknowledged by the management of the venue as the penalty shoot-out between Brazil and Chile was shown live during the innings break on the large screen.
“As a Brazilian supporter I wanted to bring a radio but there was a mix-up with the batteries, so I am very glad that they showed the penalties at the interval,” said Neil Hoyte.
“But we’re all West Indians first and foremost and we’ve grown up on West Indies cricket so I think it is a first love of ours.
“Definitely for me the first sport I fell in love with was cricket and I really enjoy it. It’s just that I haven’t been back for a while, but I decided to come today with some friends and enjoy myself.”