While England's north east cricket community is celebrating the elevation of Durham's Riverside ground to Test status, thousands of miles away in the Caribbean fellow cricket lovers are eagerly anticipating similar news in support of the all-new St Lucia National Cricket Ground.

Work on the $12.5m project began in April and officials are confident the purpose-built cricket complex will be ready for its inaugural match in March 2002, probably an invitation game drawing in some of the most prominent current and ex-West Indian players.

Just two months later it is scheduled to become the Caribbean's latest international ground when it hosts the West Indies-India ODI on May 15, followed soon after by the West Indies-New Zealand ODI on June 5.

The natural hope is that Test match status will follow – possibly in 2004 – and that it will also play a major role in hosting matches during the 2007 World Cup.

It is an ambitious project but if all goes to plan St Lucia, which plays in the domestic competition under the Leeward Islands banner, will become an integral staging post for West Indian cricket, boasting the finest playing and spectating facilities throughout the region.

The state-of-the-art complex is set in the picturesque surrounds of the Beausejour Hills in Gros Islet, in the north of the island, and planners are intent the ground will maintain the Caribbean's famed carnival atmosphere while also providing top quality facilities.

The initial development will ensure a capacity of more than 10,000 (including a substantial grassed embankment) and provision has also been made for a 25m run off area surrounding the oval pitch.

This will be used primarily during one-day matches where a rotating procession of floats, food stalls and bands will help with the intended aim of turning the whole event into a smorgasbord of sounds, colours and smells.

"It will be like the Superbowl with a Caribbean flavour," said Desmond Skeete, chairman of the St Lucia Tourist Board. "It's not about putting on a match, it's an entire event," he added.

For him the benefits of St Lucia building an international stadium are obvious. Not only will it raise the island's sporting profile within the region, it will also attract thousands of overseas tourists intent on following their team and sampling the famed Caribbean hospitality.

The English market is a lucrative one indeed, as Antigua and Barbados have proved during the past two tours, and Skeete believes St Lucia will be up there with the rest in terms of pulling power once word gets out.

The inaugural ODI against India on May 15 has been timed to coincide with St Lucia's long-running and renowned Jazz Festival, but if that's not your cup of tea (or rum punch) other nearby attractions include jungle biking, scuba diving, sailing, deep sea fishing and the weekly Jump Up (street party) in Gros Islet.

If that doesn't entice the travelling masses then the sight of crystal clear water gently lapping on pristine sandy beaches could be the tempter.

Either way St Lucia is now looking to become a major cricket player within the Caribbean set up and its evolution can only be good news for the region.

As well as boasting a hi-tech media centre and luxury corporate boxes the complex will also house an adjoining practice pitch where players can warm up and indoor net facilities for year-round coaching, significant facilities for a country yet to produce a single Test player.

The hope now is the new ground will not only be a boon to the local economy but that it will also encourage a new generation of young players to further raise the island's international profile.

If that happens then the St Lucia National Cricket Ground, which is being lottery funded, will have hit truly the jackpot.

Photo: St Lucia Tourist Board

15 Nov, 2001