One of the oldest cricketing venues in the world and home to the Rastafaria movement, Jamaica is the poster venue for West Indian cricket. Rich in cricketing history and tradition, it has been the hotbed of West Indian cricket for decades.

History
Jamaica is the third most populous 'Anglophone' country in the Americas, after the US and Canada. It is also the third-largest of all Caribbean isles and the largest English speaking island in the Caribbean. Jamaica gradually won its independence from the United Kingdom. In 1958, it became a province in the Federation of the West Indies, a federation among all of the British West Indies. Jamaica attained full independence by leaving the federation in 1962.

Cricket in Jamaica
Jamaica first played cricket as a team way back in 1895 against a touring English side. But their location prevented too many more games being played even against other Caribbean teams. They started playing in the domestic championship only in 1964 and have since won the title seven times (in addition to six ODI championships).

Famous Jamaican cricketers to play internationally include Courtney Walsh, Michael Holding, Jeff Dujon, George Headley, Jimmy Adams and the current team has Marlon Samuels, Daren Powell and Chris Gayle, the swashbuckling opener.

The Stadium
Sabina Park in Jamaica has been home to many an exciting encounter. Since the first ODI in 1983, Sabina Park has hosted 19 ODIs, 11 of which have been won by the team chasing. Not surprising, since the pitch here is considered to be among the more batsmen-friendly ones in the West Indies.

Jamaica will be the ground where the host West Indies will play all their opening round matches and the choice is not surprising since the ground is known to the hosts and they have enjoyed immense success here, winning 12 of their 19 matches here. The last one they played here was an absolute scorcher against India that they won by 1 run.

Memorable Matches
The West Indies have won off the last ball of the match twice at this ground. Viv Richards' West Indians beat Graham Gooch's Englishmen in one of these matches in 1990, while on the other occasion, Shaun Pollock's South Africans lost off the last ball to Carl Hooper's team.

Without a doubt, though, the two most memorable matches here have been during India's 2006 tour when the West Indies lost the first game off the penultimate ball only to return the favour by robbing India of a win, when Dwayne Bravo bowled Yuvraj Singh for 93 with two balls still to go.

This ground has a rich history of cricket and producing some absolute classics! No doubt there will be more in the World Cup this year.

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