I don't like Cricket - I love it

I've never really got into the Skiing pastime and limited to just the token tumble down the odd toothbrush or two aka dry slope skiing, I am assured by those who have the once or twice a year alpine fix I would enjoy it and having worked a fair bit in Geneva I've had plenty of options to try it. But for me the thought of some decent winter sunshine always takes priority.

So what better when a close groups of us had a chat about a long overdue Jolly Boys Outing, we've been on few of these covering Goa (before most people knew where it was) , Cambodia, Vietnam and a very successful US Road trip down the West Coast then onto Vegas. Using sporting event as a very loose thread someone said how about joining up with the Barmy Army on their winter Cricket tour. With a quick checked of the schedule and some perfect timing from Mr Kipper who had recently acquired accommodation in Antigua we were all set for a January tan top-up.

Juggling work commitments as a self-employed person is a reasonably new thing to me , I didn't want to be away too long for cost and security reasons so my trip would be five nights compared double for the rest of the party but never one to grumble or have to see the pictures of the boys swigging rum punch whilst I was looking the a grey cold January sky in London all was set.

Good price for the flight as in between school holiday dates, plane was pretty empty but the Caribbean immigration process and three flights landing within 15 minutes of each other meant a slow entry but a small price to pay. To maximize my time local transport was essential and in the form of the trusty scooter quickly sorted so I could wander and catch-up the others whenever.

We had booked Day 2 and Day 4 for the cricket but based on the current form day 4 would be a big ask. The ground was relatively new and on the outskirts of town, what struck me was the lack of local people, was it the ticket price , the quality of the England team or just the fact they preferred the original ground and atmosphere - like Upton Park/ Stratford for West Ham fans.

There were worst places to spend a Friday afternoon in January though.

It was a great experience but not too good on the cricket front and Day four looking less likely to happen, the next day being a non-cricket day I thought I would do something different and go to... the old cricket ground if I could find it / get in there.

I have found a lot of abandoned places are usually still pretty accessible although some assistance can be required, this was no exception as I found the ground still signposted and with the small exchange of a few EC Dollars to the caretaker the gates were open and I ran out on the outfield - well gentle stroll. It was still in pretty good shape although would have needed some major refit. Having been exited in 2009.

This was where one of Antigua's most famous sons, Sir Issac Vivian Alexander Richards scored the fastest Test Match century off 56 balls against England in the "Black-wash" series of 1986 at the Recreation Ground. It was also where Brian Lara twice set the record for highest individual Test innings, scoring 375 in 1994 and the current record of 400 not out in 2004, both times against England

There were even Cricket Trophies still piled in a corner of one of the dressing rooms . It is now used as a local football pitch which is great it's still in use although I suspect Richards and Lara would be a tad disappointed not to see local cricket played here.

Day four cricket didn't happen so perfect to sit around on one of the 365 beaches and watch the world go by. The return the UK was a mini adventure in itself with Breakfast in Antigua, Lunch in Miami , Dinner next to the Empire State building before landing at Gatwick the following morning and being at my desk for a 0900 start still with sand in my shoes and a slightly sun burnt forehead.