Australia players jump at chance to visit Barbuda

Almost two years to the day since Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda, a forlorn stretch of tattered boundary rope is the only clue that a debris-strewn, overgrown field was once the island’s only cricket ground.

Recovery efforts from the category 5 storm that lashed the 160 sq/km Caribbean island on September 6, 2017 are ongoing, with the Red Cross working alongside foreign governments – including Australia – to rebuild the lesser-frequented half of ‘Antigua and Barbuda’.

On that day in 2017, ferocious winds up to 300 km/hr lashed the island – made famous by the late Princess Di, whose love for and frequent visits to Coco Point beach saw it renamed in her honour after her death – as Irma wiped out more than 90 per cent of Barbuda’s properties. 

After the storm hit, most of the then-1800-strong population were evacuated to Antigua – since, locals estimate only 1000 of those have returned, or been able to return.

Image Id: 32DB8DE88F0D4C24A29BE0C746BB11A8 Image Caption: Recovery efforts on Barbuda are still ongoing // Cricket Network

Many of those who did come back still live in tents – a worry, given yet another hurricane season has arrived in the region, a fact hammered home when Hurricane Dorian wound his way across the Caribbean and towards Florida this week.

And for the island’s children, life has been particularly tough after the storm caused severe damage to both the primary and secondary schools while also destroying Barbuda’s sporting grounds and facilities.

Five members of the Australian women’s team had a chance to see first-hand the aftermath of the destructive storm and the subsequent rebuilding efforts on Saturday, as they took a break from their preparations for an upcoming one-day international series against West Indies.

Shortly after wrapping up a morning training session at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Delissa Kimmince, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry and Rachael Haynes boarded an eight-seater aircraft for the 17-minute journey from Antigua to Barbuda.

Image Id: A2524E98C7CD4A93B6EE09041245AF94 Image Caption: Ashleigh Gardner all smiles ahead of short flight // Cricket Network

There, they had a chance to meet a group of local children – and pass on some of the cricket knowledge that’s made them the No.1 ranked team in the world – before being given a tour of the school and nearby sporting facilities.

Life on tour can often be a whirlwind of hotels, bus rides, training sessions and matches, with scant opportunities to properly stop and take in the unique locations the game can take you to.

With that in mind, Mooney jumped at the chance to put her hand up for a spot on the plane for Saturday’s visit.

"They’re still rebuilding the community here and the High Commission and the Red Cross are doing a lot of work to support that, so we thought we’d come out there to bring some light to the community and have some fun with the kids and hopefully get a few more playing cricket because I’ve heard basketball is a big sport here," Mooney said.

"It’s special. We’re at a really important time with what we get to do, we don’t often get opportunities like this, so thought I’d jump at it and get out and meet some people and hear their stories.

"Just hearing about the hurricane and when it hit and how they’re still rebuilding, lots of people haven’t been able to come back."

For the island’s children, there’s been little to do in the way of recreation in the past two years – but thankfully, that’s starting to change.

In July this year, a new basketball court was installed in Barbuda’s sole town Codrington, specifically designed to be easily packed away in the event of another major storm and the installation of which has been a joint effort between the Red Cross and the Australian and British high commissions. 

Image Id: C9BDC6FA6FC44CE7A012CFBF04034D8C Image Caption: Locals estimate close to 1000 people have returned to Barbuda // Cricket Network

And when the school term resumes later this month, the Holy Trinity Primary School students will find themselves the new owners of a kitbag full of cricket equipment, gifted by the touring Australians.

"Irma brought a lot of destruction on our tiny little island," Peter Cuffy, Chairman of the Barbuda Branch of the Red Cross Antigua and Barbuda said. 

"We’re still struggling to survive but it’s not as bad as it was two years ago. 

"Prior to (the restoration of the basketball court) there was nothing much the children could have done.

"Now at least the kids have somewhere they can go to."

Cuffy – a cricket nuffy happy to admit he’s somewhat biased towards the sport - hopes Australia’s visit can help reignite a love for the sport on the island.

"With this visit of the Australian team, for me as someone who teaches sports at the high school I hope this will signal a rebirth of cricket back on Barbuda," Cuffy said.

"The youngsters being able to rub shoulders with the Australian players and see them in person and see them being down to earth, I hope that plays a role in the return of cricket.

"For us it’s a good opportunity, because as far as I can remember it’s the first time we’ve ever had a cricket team touring Antigua actually visit Barbuda as part of a delegation." 

And hopefully, by the time these children are older, they’ll also have a restored cricket ground on which to play.

CommBank Tour of the West Indies

One-Day Internationals*
*ICC Women's Championship matches

September 5: First ODI, Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

September 8: Second ODI, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua

September 11: Third ODI, Sir Viv Richards Ground, Antigua

Twenty20 Internationals

September 14: First T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 16: Second T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados

September 18: Third T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados