In recent weeks, road tennis got excellent publicity through the finals played at Dover carried on CBC-TV and a game between a leading British lawn tennis player and a local ace shown globally on ESPN.
This game, a hybrid of lawn and table tennis, is Barbados’ indigenous contribution to world sport and culture and has great export potential.
When I served in London in the early years of this century, a group of players was invited by a Barbadian woman living in London to visit showcasing the game.
The leading light in the visiting group was Keith Griffith, nationally known as an outstanding footballer and national coach. Demonstration games were arranged in the heart of London, Trafalgar Square, at 10 o’clock a Friday morning.
The location was fortuitous. The majority of tourists visiting the English capital invariably pass through this famous landmark, dominated by the fountain, rampant pigeons and statues of Lord Horatio Nelson and, more recently, Nelson Mandela. That morning, there were about 3000 tourists in the square, mainly Chinese and Japanese, many showing a keen interest in the game.
Called upon to say a few words, I recall how proud I was that within sight of the seat of the monarchy, Houses of Parliament and Commonwealth headquarters, that morning two of the Caribbean’s unique contributions to world culture, the steel band and road tennis, were on show.
The South Africa High Commission is located across the street and a diplomat made his way into the square attracted by the sweet pan music and fascinated by the game. A Black American diplomat making his way back to his embassy also stopped by captured by the fascinating twin attractions.
Overwhelmed by curiosity, they agreed to move on to a nearby pub to discuss road tennis over a pint of beer. Both agreed the game would have great appeal, particularly in South Africa’s townships and the ghettoes of the United States. They were sent full information packages.
I left London soon after and have no idea if the game is now played in Soweto and other townships and inner city ghettoes in New York and Los Angeles.
What I do know is that both diplomats applauded the genius of Barbadians from the poorer stratum of this society who, unable to play either traditional form of tennis, used their God given innovative skills to develop this hybrid.
When 20/20 cricket started in England, I declined an invitation by a friend to drive down to a match in Kent in which some top West Indians were playing. As far as I was concerned, it was a bastardization of a game for which I had a lifelong interest and had played to First Division level as a schoolboy. The purists were on my side, dismissing it as “slogging” with a limited premium on skill.
Through the years, 20/20 has made tremendous progress and is now the most popular form of the game. The friend who had invited me to that early game was here recently for the games in Antigua and at the magnificent Kensington Oval. When my friend enquired of my current views on this version of the game, I admitted unhesitatingly that I have been converted, follow it keenly and enjoy it immensely.
The large crowds attending the games must have warmed the cockles of the hearts of the West Indies Cricket Board members. In the modern frenetic world, time seems a scarce commodity and whereas a five-day Test match seems to be a modern form of torture, especially when the current West Indies team is palpably short of star talent, the 20/20 is great action packed into half of one day’s play.
The improved facilities put in place for the World Cup – plus the addition of lighting making day/night games possible – has contributed significantly to enhanced public interest and support at the gates.
In addition, watching a fast moving game in the cool of the evening after a day’s work is a highly desirable way of de-stressing and relaxing before going home.
This tournament, unlike the denuded and neutered World Cup, brought out all the colour, antics and ancillary noises which have always characterized
West Indies cricket. Off-the-field sideshows are vital attractions to go to cricket and enjoy it and were pleasing aspects of this series. The crowds had lots of uninhibited fun shared by those of us watching on TV.
Trinidad and Tobago, the best team, won. However, the high-class batting of Dwayne Smith and Keiron Pollard, bowling of Fidel Edwards and Tino Best and wicketkeeping of Shane Dowrich and Carlton Baugh were entertaining.
Finally, why did Ryan Hinds, arguably our best batsman with an outstanding regional record, bat at number eight or nine? If we are serious about winning, this must be corrected.
