Behind the Scenes

I think I set some kind of personal best yesterday.

I have taken 'relaxing' to a new level. I have finished reading a book (miracle), I've tapped away on the keyboard, and we lounged around watching the Ireland v India match over lunch.

So by 3pm, I had only completed 568 steps.

"I think I need a few more steps in, Eddie."

So we packed the water and headed for the hills - the ones near the stadium. As we approached the stadium, we made a right turn instead of the usual left. There are some super swanky houses set into the hillside, but turning right took us along a road with more humble abodes. The people on this island are wonderful - without fail they will make eye contact, exchange a smile and say hello. We got a lot of this as we sweated our way along the road feeling thirstier by the minute. My step counter was now over 7,000, I was hot and my toes were sore.

Like a mirage, a little shack shop appeared at the top of a hill. It was painted bright red and yellow. The colours of Northumberland.

"Lets stop for a pop," said Eddie. I didn't need asking again. I had been dreaming about pop for the last 30 mins.

The shop was staffed by a small lady with rollers in her hair, yacking on a mobile phone. The shelves were strewn with all manner of useful items - toothbrushes, clothes pegs, jam, press studs, deodorant, rum...and there was a big flat screen telly showing the cricket - New Zealand v Pakistan.

"3 beers please," Eddie asked.

We settled back and watched the game, sipping our Caribs and chatting to roller ladies husband who was knowledgeable about the games, the teams, the tactics.

We were shortly joined by a very loud and jolly man who bought us both a beer and one for himself (on the 3 for a tenner deal)

It turned out that he was one of the hero groundsmen that worked at the Daren Sammy stadium. He confessed to drinking 72 beers on the day that the England match was abandoned. We weren't sure whether to believe him or not, but he said it had been a very stressful day!

And so Eddie was in heaven exchanging tales of groundsmanship.

Eddie looks after the ground at Matfen, so the pair hooted and laughed as they compared notes on various methods of preparing wickets.

"We cut our outfield twice a day because the grass grows before your eyes," said our new pal.

"Wow! Ours gets cut once a week!"

More hooting and roaring laughter. The kids would have been mortally embarrassed. But they're not here so it didn't matter. I just smiled and glugged back the Carib.

After our 3rd beer, we said goodbye to our new friends and left for the 4,000 steps home - slightly worse for wear it has to be said, but I wasn't thirsty any more, and my toes were numb, so all was well.

So as Friday dawns, England have a huge game on their hands. If they win, then they will book their place on the plane to Antigua for the finals. If they lose, they may find themselves on the same plane as us on Monday. Back to Gatwick.

One thing's for sure, the pitch and the wicket will be in tip top condition for them. The unsung heroes behind the scenes will be making sure of that!