RICKY Ponting is there limbering up along with the rest of the Australian World Cup squad.
Welcome to the Caribbean, where cricket is a religion and the playing of a musical instrument at the ground is encouraged rather than banned. It's a colourful part of the world, of postcard-perfect beaches to deep turquoise harbours sprinkled with yachts and large cruise ships.
With the world's biggest cricket tournament to begin this weekend, we take a look at four island nations that will feature on our TVs in the lead-up to the final on April 28.
Antigua Birthplace of the legendary master blaster Vivian Richards, Antigua is an island of beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and rows of beachfront hotels, apartments and resorts.
Its capital St John's is not a large centre but it is dominated by an 1845-built cathedral, complete with magnificent white baroque towers.
In the forefront is the harbour, a hive of activity when cruise ships berth, a magnet for yachties tying at Nelson's Dockyard.
While Antigua thrives on attracting sunbathers, it is also noted for its decaying stone-built windmills that once served the sugar plantations, and have long been abandoned. But world-class rum is still in plentiful supply.
In the cricketing world, a walk down the street that carries Richards' name is a must. You'll also learn that the island has nurtured a few other West Indian greats, former captain Richie Richardson and the terrifying speed kings Andy Roberts and Curtly Ambrose among them.
Come game day though and it's the gum-chewing Richards who will lend his name to Antigua's sparkling new 20,000-seat stadium.
Barbados
As sweet and spicy as the name suggests, Barbados, the eastern-most island in the Caribbean, is as famous for its rum and chilli as it is for its sandy beaches and glistening waters.
While hiking and four-wheel-drive safaris are popular, it's the water that holds great appeal, whether you take the Atlantis undersea expedition or a cruise aboard a catamaran to snorkel among the marine life.
If you love your cricket calypso-style, it doesn't get more parochial than in capital Bridgetown, home of the famous Kensington Oval.
Legendary West Indies players to hail from Barbados include great all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, fiery Wes Hall and the dynamic opening partners Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge. Come World Cup final day, the new-look stadium's 28,000-capacity crowd will be rocking.
Trinidad and Tobago
With a capital that goes by the name of Port-of-Spain, the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago are not so popular with beachgoers, but they are breathtakingly beautiful for their Northern Range and coastal views.
For two days each February, the islanders celebrate in the streets with a festival known as Carnival. With all the zest, colour and pageantry expected of such a celebration, it's a time to tap away to music that will ultimately spread to Trinidad's home ground of Queen's Park. And with local favourite Brian Lara padding up to add more runs to his impressive record, it will be music to the ears if the Windies win.
Jamaica
Rattle off the names Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, and it's surprising how much you do know about Jamaica, especially if you are into music.
It's not just its isolation from the other West Indies playing nations (it's located in the western Caribbean) that makes it stand out.
It's on the island that reggae music began and is the birthplace of Bob Marley.
It's an island that was also terrorised by the notorious pirate Blackbeard (Edward Teach) about three centuries ago.
Jamaica has plenty of natural treasures from Dunn's River Waterfalls near Ocho Rios to the Blue Lagoon near Port Antonio.
With such past stars as Michael Holding, Jeffrey Dujon and Courtney Walsh hailing from Jamaica, the island also has a passion for cricket and you'll be sure to see a few tea cosy-like hats in the stands of Sabina Park.
News RSS