Ashwell Prince's Caribbean Diary - Part 3

A month or so ago I would never have dreamed that I'd be going to be bed at night on an island containing an active volcano.

And in case you wondering what's an active volcano, it's one that goes snap, crackle and pop from time to time, spitting out ash and molten lava (hopefully, not in the direction in which most of the people live). St Vincent's volcano is known as Soufriere, and when it last erupted in 1979 it spewed 150 000 tons of ash on the island of Barbados (160km away). I'm keeping my fingers crossed....

It's the first day of our match against the Windward Islands - and it is being played on a ground the likes of which I have never seen before: its boundary on the one side is just 100 metres from the sea; and on the other side, equally close to the ground, is an airport. It's an overcast day, with the locals predicting rain. We bat first, and quickly lose Smithie (Graeme Smith) for a single. After six overs, we struggle to 9/1. And then the heavens open up. We spend most of the rest of the day watching the rain pouring down (which, for a cricketer, is about as boring as watching grass grow). Finally, at 4pm we head back to the hotel. We have dinner at the hotel next door. It's less expensive, and it offers a menu that has more variety.

We add 40 to our overnight total, but we lose 8 wickets in the process. At 42/9 we're knee deep in it. The great thing about South African teams, though - and this applies to just about every sporting code - is that we never surrender. And sure enough, in marches our Number 11, Garnett Kruger, to join stand-in skipper Gerald Dros. Soon they're putting the rest of us to shame with a partnership of 102. Dros finishes with a patient, undefeated 67; Kruger, who's particularly severe on anything short, smashes some fine boundaries in an excellent knock of 58. We're relieved to get to 192, but disappointed with our overall batting performance.

It's very hot, and the Windward Islanders keep us in the field for most of the day as they compile a score of 276, a lead of 84. We fare much better in our second innings, reaching 78 without loss (Doug Watson 40 not out; Graeme Smith 35 not out) by the close. So the game ends in a boring draw.

We're given two days off before the first test. We do some sight-seeing, although there's not really much to see here. In the botanic gardens of Kingstown, the capital of St Vincent, grows a breadloaf tree that was brought here in 1792 from Tahiti by Captain William Bligh (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame). Most of the tourist activity around the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines revolves around yachting. Our "fizz" (physiotherapist) Shane Jabaar has been working very hard to make sure that we're eating properly (not too much junk food) and that we replace all the fluids we lose in the hot weather. It's important that all the players are in tip-top shape for the all-important first test.

Today's my mother's birthday - and am I in trouble ... [When I record this entry a day later, I realise that I'd completely forgotten about it.] Life is so laid back in the Caribbean. But no, It's a poor excuse. I'm sorry mommy, I forgot. But to emphasise my point about the laid back lifestyle of the islands: The Kentucky Fried Chicken delivery service here takes one-and-a-half hours. I'm not joking!. Everyone drives with one hand on the steering wheel. Our coach driver is never on time; our plans have to fall in with his schedule. I've been collecting funny statements made by some of the guys on tour. Here are two of them: Smithie (Graeme Smith) to his roomie: "Boonie [Mark Bruyns], please order me a ham and cheese sandwich and if there's isn't any a cheese and ham sandwich." Someone to Ginger (James Bryant): "Who looks after the pool at your house?" Ginger: "We do it ourselves; we just pour H2O in it (what he meant, of course, was HTH chlorine. I hear the Western Province boys are hard at work. I wish them well in their pre-season preparations, and for their tour to Kimberley and Johannesburg.

Until next time, Ashy