Barmy Army Staff Travel Blog #1 - Barbados

by Matthew Graves

I was Travel Operations Manager for the recent ODI in Barbados. I’ve also been Merchandise Manager on the island before for the Test series in 2022. They were very different, but both were unbelievable experiences. A white ball series is a little more relaxed, enabling you time to experience more of the island and enjoy more of the local food, venues and experiences! However, a five-day Test match at the Kensington Oval – with the fun and party that the West Indies fans bring to cricket – is never to be sniffed at!

After the recent series, I have now been to Barbados three times. It really is great to see overseas the power the Barmy Army brings to cricket – especially when the locals love it just as much as the travelling fans.

It might sound a little cliche, but for me, the beaches are second to none. Turtle Beach is a genuine paradise before your eyes and there’s another eight or nine beaches on the island that are similar. Every corner you turn, you’ve got great food, drink, atmosphere and beaches.

In terms of cricket, the party that West Indians bring is on another level. They’ve had some of the best and worst teams of all time, but their commitment to having fun and enjoying themselves never fades.

There’s always a local to recommend a food or drink option wherever you go. My advice – to everyone – is to be open to trying new things, but be wary of the rum punches in the sun! For people who are thinking about travelling to Barbados for cricket, I’d say go for it! It’s one of the least cricket, cricket tours, if that makes sense!

On a white ball tour, you might watch two or three games across a week, and then you’ve got four or five days to enjoy paradise. It’s the perfect cricket holiday if you’ve never done one before – the cricket isn’t overbearing and there’s so much fun to be had on the island.

A wise man once said, if you can see the sea, you order the catch of the day. It’s not wrong, but it’s hard to do when you can always see the sea and there’s so much to choose from! Jerk chicken, an assortment of fresh fish, the mac pie… flavour in everything you eat. Even if it’s a little dry, there’s always a Banks or a rum punch to wash it down with!

It’s great that Barbados is hosting England in the World Cup. What a great place for fans to get another excuse to visit! There’s two big games against Australia and Scotland, some great days exploring the beaches, the food, the culture – a fantastic place and a great opportunity for the Barmy Army to visit again!

Summarising my trip(s) to Barbados is always a difficult thing to do. In one word, I would say mesmerising. Cricket holiday experiences rarely compete with Barbados. It could be another 30 years before the West Indies host a World Cup again, so it’s 100% worth taking advantage of the schedule and watching cricket in paradise!

Are you wanting to join us at the T20 World Cup?

In June 2024, England will travel to both the Caribbean and USA to defend their T20 World Cup crown and you can be there with the Barmy Army.

As always, our dedicated, experienced, and passionate team on the ground will be with you to ensure you have a fantastic experience from start to finish.