Antigua and Cricket

The game of Cricket is a part and parcel of Antigua’s culture. One cannot fully grasp the culture of Antigua without considering the island's intense devotion to cricket. The sport is played at every nook and corner of the island and at any time, though official matches tend to be held on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The cricket season of the island lasts from January to July. During this season most regional and international matches take place.

The Antigua Recreation Ground became the 52^nd international test venue in 1980-81 and is considered one of the most thrilling grounds in the world to watch a cricket match.

Antigua is rich in talents and it has produced four of the best West Indies test players. The first was Andy Roberts who emerged as an international star during the seventies. In the heyday of the West Indian cricket he was the best bowler and further strengthened the team by serving it as the coach of the West Indies team. Another great Antiguan player is Richie Richardson and he served as the captain of the West Indies Cricket team.  Another star player from Antigua is Curtley Ambrose. He soared to bowling supremacy knocking down the most feared batsmen all over the world. He has to his credit 369 test wickets and 221 one day international wickets in his career which spans 13 years. The most celebrated of Antigua’s sports legends is Vivian Richards, who ranks among the very greatest cricketers of all time. Richards International career lasted from 1974 to 1991. Richards has been adulated on his home island. The bat of Richards has been placed in the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. Vivian Richards remains involved in the Antiguan, West Indian and international cricket scene and a good glimpse of the cricketer and his game can be had from the Spinnakers beach Bar and Restaurant in Dickenson Bay.