By Ashley Anthony
Cricket in the Caribbean has a rich and complex history. In Guyana, whenever cricket comes to Providence Stadium, it is as though life has been breathed into the country. Needless to say, cricket is far more than just a game.
Cricket can be regarded as a unifier in that it brings the Caribbean islands and Guyana together under the umbrella of the West Indies Cricket Team. Despite disputes amongst the islands, once the West Indies is playing a match, every country supports the team.
Cricket has, of course, evolved with the introduction of 20/20 matches and CPL, and in so doing has become an even stronger facilitator of Caribbean unity. The Caribbean Premiere League encourages healthy competition among member countries, and even enables the exchange of cultures through sport tourism.
On a country scale, whenever there’s cricket, there’s a sort of peace. Guyanese of various socioeconomic backgrounds show up to rally for their home team, even if they’ve been on a losing streak. Whether it’s in the grass stand or presidential booth, you can be sure to see yellow shirts side by side, raising one voice of support for the Warriors. It’s a time when personal differences are set aside, and the only thing that matters is the experience of the game.
Cricket can also act as a unifier within the home. Spending quality time together strengthens the relationships within a family. As it stands, there are few activities that can interest the whole family as a game of cricket. And as such, it is a wonderful way to get in that necessary family time in a way that pleases everyone. Cricket can also help to reunite estranged friends, and to reform bonds of camaraderie. So often, when you go to a cricket game, you bump into someone you haven’t seen in a while, or someone whose number you’ve lost, or someone whom you haven’t been able to find on Facebook. You can catch up; and if things go well, even exchange contact information to meet up in the future.
Really and truly, cricket is more than just a game. It has made its home in the hearts of each and every Guyanese (in some small way), and it will continue in the future to be the bridge of connection between young and old, rich and poor, and Guyanese everywhere.
