Cricket Culture in Saint Lucia

More than a game

Ask a Saint Lucian about cricket and you will hear about family, friends and bragging rights. The sport runs through the Caribbean, and on this island it shows up in beach games, village pitches and long arguments in local bars. A big match turns into a gathering, with music, food and a great deal of friendly noise.

That means you do not need to know the rules to enjoy it. Plenty of visitors turn up knowing little and leave as fans, helped along by neighbours happy to explain what is going on. If you like live events, it is one of the most sociable things you can do on the island.

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground

The island's main venue is the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground at Beausejour, close to Gros Islet and Rodney Bay. It is a modern stadium that can hold up to around twenty thousand people, with floodlights that make evening matches possible. It has hosted international fixtures and regional tournaments, and it sits in a tropical setting that few cricket grounds can match.

Its name honours Daren Sammy, the first Saint Lucian to play for the West Indies. He captained the side to two World T20 titles, in 2012 and 2016, and the national stadium took his name in 2016. His early cricket is also linked with the playing field at Micoud in the southeast, so his story runs through more than one corner of the island.

The Saint Lucia Kings and the CPL

The island is represented in the Caribbean Premier League by the Saint Lucia Kings. Home matches have been played in August, when the ground fills for floodlit games against teams from across the region. Fixtures, dates and ticket details change from year to year, so check the current schedule before you book flights.

Tickets are sold through the league's ticketing platform, and it is wise to arrive at least an hour before play starts. Parking and gate information is usually published before each match. Children are generally welcome, but check the age policy attached to your ticket. Our guide to festivals and events shows what else is on around your dates.

• Bring sun protection for early arrivals and a light layer for later.
• Plan your transport home before the final over, as roads fill quickly.
• Ask your resort or a taxi driver about match-day arrangements.

Match-day atmosphere beyond the gate

The fun spills out of the stadium. Bars and restaurants around Gros Islet fill with fans, and there is usually music, grilled food and local drinks. Our food and rum guide suggests what to try, and the street food guide points you to simple bites that go with a match.

If you are staying nearby, you can walk or take a short taxi ride to the ground. If you are further south, plan your journey with our getting around guide, and allow extra time on busy nights.

Finding cricket outside the stadium

On any given weekend you may come across a casual game on a beach or a village field. Watching is fine, and joining in is often welcome if you ask politely. These games say more about island life than any brochure, so take a moment to stop and watch, even if you only stay for a few overs.

Football, netball and athletics also have strong followings, as described in our sports and fitness guide. The Beausejour Indoor Practice Facility, built for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, is used for several sports, so the area remains a hub for local athletes.

Planning a cricket trip

Match days suit sports fans, groups of friends and anyone who wants a night out with real island character. Stay in the north to be close, using the accommodation guide to choose, and add a few days of beach and sightseeing around the match. The how many days guide helps you plan the length of your visit.

Combine the game with Pigeon Island, a boat trip or a relaxed afternoon on the sand, and check our best time to visit page for the seasons, as August is warm and can be showery.

What is the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground like on match day in Saint Lucia?

The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground is a floodlit international stadium at Beausejour near Gros Islet in northern Saint Lucia, where match day combines serious cricket with music, food and a sociable crowd, in what is one of the driest parts of the island. It stands on about 22 acres at the north-eastern end of the Rodney Bay resort area, roughly six minutes by car from Gros Islet town. The stadium sits close to the northern resorts, so a match fits easily into a stay around Rodney Bay. Gates open well before play, and arriving early gives you time to find your seat, buy food and soak up the build-up. Keep valuables to a minimum and carry small notes for stalls.

The ground opened in 2002 and staged its first one-day international that June, followed by its first Test the next year. In 2006 it became the first Caribbean venue to host a day-night game after floodlights were installed, and it later hosted matches at the 2007 Cricket World Cup and the 2010 World Twenty20. Seating is permanent for around thirteen thousand, with temporary expansion for major fixtures, so the atmosphere is large but never impersonal. Naturally the pitch is only part of the experience. The fans bring noise, humour and generous opinions, and the commentary from the crowd often outshines that from the box. Sitting among local supporters rather than in a quiet corner will give you the most authentic view of the sport on the island.

A visit is as much about the surroundings as the play. Food stalls and music add to the mood, and conversation in the stands runs through every ball. First-timers are made welcome, and neighbours will explain the rules unprompted. Wear a hat for afternoon starts, carry a light layer for the evening and allow plenty of time to arrive, since roads around the ground fill up before the first ball. Come with an open mind rather than a plan. Even if the match is slow, there is always something happening on the boundary. Children run around, vendors call out their wares and music drifts across the stands. Cricket here is a social event, and the result is only one of its pleasures.

Who was Daren Sammy and why is the ground named after him?

Daren Sammy is the Saint Lucian cricketer who captained the West Indies to the World Twenty20 titles of 2012 and 2016, and the national ground at Beausejour was renamed in his honour on 21 July 2016. Before that it was known as the Beausejour Cricket Ground, named for the hills that shelter the site. The first international after the renaming was a Test between India and the West Indies, starting on 9 August 2016. He is celebrated as a role model, and his achievements are a source of real pride, especially among younger players. It is common for local cricketers to mention him when asked about their heroes. Knowing his story gives extra meaning to a visit to the ground that carries his name.

For local people the renaming mattered because it recognised a player from a small island who rose to lead a regional side. His story is told across Saint Lucia, and you will hear it from taxi drivers and bar staff. If you want to place the sporting side of the island in context, our notable Saint Lucians guide introduces other figures from the arts and sport, and the sport in Saint Lucia page describes the games people play. The renaming took place in July 2016, and it turned an ordinary stadium name into a statement of local achievement. Fans will happily tell you where they were when the final was won, and you may find yourself drawn into a lively conversation.

Cricket reaches far beyond the stadium. Informal games happen on beaches and village fields, with improvised bats and a good deal of banter, and the Beausejour area is a hub for training and other sports. A short chat with a local cricket fan is often the best introduction to the island's mood, and it costs nothing. Ask about favourite players and you will likely be given a full history lesson. Take the time to watch a casual game if you see one. People play in the evenings on beaches and village fields, and the standard can be high. Watching quietly from the edge usually earns a smile, and sometimes an invitation to join in.

How do you plan a cricket trip to Saint Lucia?

To plan a cricket trip to Saint Lucia, check the fixture list first, then book flights and a base in the north near Rodney Bay and Gros Islet, and add a few days of beach and sightseeing around the match. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority lists the Caribbean Premier League as a major event for the island, and dates and tickets change each year, so confirm details before you commit. Look at the calendar carefully when you book. A trip timed with a major fixture will be busier and pricier, and tickets for popular matches may sell out. If you only want atmosphere, ask your hotel about smaller local matches, which are cheaper and easier to attend, and often just as warm.

The north has the widest choice of places to stay and eat, and it makes match nights easy. Our accommodation guide compares resorts, and Gros Islet has a famous Friday street party that sits well alongside a match weekend. Travelling in a group is easiest if you agree transport home before the final over, whether that is a hotel shuttle or a driver you have already arranged. Accommodation in the north fills up around big fixtures, so reserve early. Most travellers choose the Rodney Bay area, which has restaurants, bars and shops within a short walk of one another. A quiet resort away from the town may suit those who want a peaceful base for the days between matches.

Build the rest of the holiday around the cricket. A calm day at Pigeon Island suits the morning after a late night, and the sailing and boat trips guide offers an easy way to recover on the water. If you would like a longer stay, the how many days guide helps you decide how much time to give the island, and the best beaches guide picks places to relax between matches. A cricket trip also leaves room for gentler pleasures. A walk along a beach, a swim, a long lunch and a slow evening are all easily fitted around the sport. Many fans plan the match as one highlight of a week, with other days left to sun, sea and local food.

Cricket and the Saint Lucian character

Cricket here is part of community life as much as sport. The page on sport in Saint Lucia tells the wider story, while culture and traditions explains the social side of a match day.

Pride in local achievement runs through notable Saint Lucians and national symbols and holidays, and the history of Saint Lucia shows how the game arrived.

Where to stay and how to plan

Most visitors fit this into holidays to St Lucia, so choose your base first. Compare St Lucia hotels by area and style, and read our guides to luxury hotels in St Lucia and all inclusive resorts in St Lucia if you are choosing between a boutique stay and an all in package.

Then set your dates with the best time to visit St Lucia, book flights to St Lucia and pick days out from our St Lucia itineraries. Couples can also read about a honeymoon in St Lucia or weddings in St Lucia.

Questions travellers ask