The importance of first impressions
It can be rather dangerous to make judgements too soon on whether a tournament will be a success... but you know what they say about the importance of first impressions.
Three years ago I arrived in Barbados for the start of the and was immediately struck by the negativity that seemed to be shared by the local people about the forthcoming event.
I remember writing a blog a few days before the tournament began about how the people I had met felt there was a danger that the West Indies World Cup was not going to be the Caribbean event it should be.
Ticket prices were too high, musical instruments etc were to be banned from the grounds and new stadia built specially for the event were too far away from where people lived and lacking in character.
At the time I wrote the blog I thought I was just reflecting a flavour of what a few people felt - but it turned out to perhaps be "the" story of the 2007 West Indies World Cup. An elongated competition played in front of mainly small crowds with little of the unique Caribbean atmosphere.
So the big question is have the and the local organisers learnt from the mistakes of three years ago?
Signs advertising the tournament welcome the TMS team to Barbados
Well the first impressions are certainly good.
When I arrived at the Grantley Adams International airport in on Monday we were greeted by lots of large colourful signs urging us to "Bring it" ... the motto of the competition and the name of the official tournament song featuring, I'm reliably informed, "Dancehall maestro and soca queen ".
I'm sure its an irony not lost on the ICC that three years ago a lot of negative publicity was centred around what people were not allowed to take to matches. In 2010 the catch line for the tournament is "bring it".
Although I've yet to find out if all shapes and sizes of shells and musical instruments will be allowed in grounds - what is definitely evident from my first couple of days here in the West Indies is that unlike three years ago there is a real buzz about the tournament.
We are expecting big crowds with many games already sold out I'm told and it seems lessons have been learnt over ticket prices. You can see a game for less than two pounds with tickets for the final itself available for around 13 pounds.
I was in Barbados on Monday and have travelled on to and in both countries virtually everyone I have spoken to seems enthusiastic about the forthcoming cricket with many already having bought tickets to some of the games.
The man who helped me with my luggage in my hotel in said he'd see me at the two warm-up games on Wednesday. "It's the only tickets I could get," he said."I wanted to watch the West Indies beat England next week, but all the tickets had gone."
Our coverage of the gets under way on Friday with commentary on Five Live Sports Extra of the opening game between Sri Lanka and New Zealand followed by the hosts the West Indies taking on serial giant killers Ireland. We will be on air from 1745 BST on Friday.
Over in , Alison Mitchell will bring you news of Afghanistan's opening games after their amazing qualification for the tournament, plus details of the first matches featuring the holders Pakistan and previous champions India.
The Kensington Oval in Barbados will host the final
England begin their campaign on Monday against the hosts with Five Live Sports Extra and bringing you ball by ball action from 1830.
We will then bring you commentary on England against Ireland on Tuesday before beginning our blanket coverage of the Super Eight stage onwards from Thursday 6 May, including commentary on the semi-finals and final of the Women's World Twenty20 which is running alongside the men's competition.
Our correspondent is leading our commentary team alongside the voice of West Indies cricket with expert analysis from, among others, who will be with TMS once again.
There will be extensive coverage here at bbc.co.uk/cricket and look out for more blogs, articles and behind the scenes pictures on Flickr plus twitter posts from and .
And as always we want to hear from you - with comments here on the TMS blog or by e-mailing tms@bbc.co.uk.
We are very much looking forward to "bringing it" all to you!
Hello I'm Adam Mountford and I'm the 91Èȱ¬ Radio Cricket producer. My main
responsibility is to produce Test Match Special but I also look after our cricket coverage on other 91Èȱ¬ outlets. My blog attempts to give you a flavour of life behind the scenes of the 91Èȱ¬ Cricket team. .
Comment number 1.
At 28th Apr 2010, hainba wrote:Glad to hear that the organisers have learned from some of their mistakes in 2007. It's the local fans that make a tournament and the mixing of cricket fans - not corporate hospitality. Not sure what would happen though if the WI's get knocked out but its a 20/20 lottery.
On a more serious note there is scant comment about coverage of the women's progress (our defending champions) and more about the Afghanistan (fairy tale).
So what will the coverage be for Charlotte's team - is anyone blogging for them in Ebony's enforced absence?
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Comment number 2.
At 28th Apr 2010, hainba wrote:PS Sorry to expand on the WI knock out point. T20 needs atmosphere (maybe not as much as the IPL) but cricket fans. Not convinced there will be huge number of Barmy Army or national supporters to fill the space if the locals lose interest. Cheap tickets will help but in whose hands?
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Comment number 3.
At 28th Apr 2010, FleetJackHobbs wrote:The front page article on this tournament - the one profiling the teams - is a disgrace in that it makes no mention of the women's teams. We have two teams in the Caribbean and only one of them is defending a World Cup. - Newsworthy? I would have thought so.
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Comment number 4.
At 28th Apr 2010, Richard Irvine-Brown wrote:Hi, FleetJack, I've had a word with Paul Grunill, one of the cricket eds - we most certainly haven't forgotten about the women's Twenty20. You will be able to read Ebony Rainford Brent's preview in the next couple of days.
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Comment number 5.
At 28th Apr 2010, David Shield wrote:Hi Adam
I'm looking forward to the World Twenty20 although I can't belive how soon this is after the excellent event in England last summer.
Any chance of you letting us know the whole commentary team for the coverage? Will Jon Kenny, Arlo White and Simon Mann be involved at all?
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Comment number 6.
At 28th Apr 2010, FleetJackHobbs wrote:Hallelujah, Mr Irvine-Brown. Hallelujah!
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Comment number 7.
At 28th Apr 2010, hainba wrote:Glad to hear some feedback. C'mon England Men & women
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Comment number 8.
At 29th Apr 2010, SportsFan wrote:Lets hope we get an exciting World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean. India are one of the favourites to win it with the likes of South Africa and Australia because of the recent IPL tournament. England should do well in the WT20, they have a chance of winning it. The England women have a better chance winning it than the men from my view
Plus we all know the Caribbean loves cricket so the atmosphere should be awesome from the home side!
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Comment number 9.
At 29th Apr 2010, greenlegend wrote:Dear Adam
Guyana is not an island.
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Comment number 10.
At 29th Apr 2010, hainba wrote:It would've been appropriate if CMJ had at least acknowledged the existence of the women's tournament in his blog. Or is that not part of his specialist remit.
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Comment number 11.
At 29th Apr 2010, FleetJackHobbs wrote:hainba, I can't find a CMJ blog. Did you mean J. Agnew? If so, he doesn't write blogs, only articles. No replies from the hoi polloi for him. He reminds me somewhat of Felipe II of Spain.
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Comment number 12.
At 30th Apr 2010, hainba wrote:You're right as ever FJH my apologies to CMJ I did mean the blinkered Aggers... Time for him to be dethroned and a new modern world cricket writer found by the 91Èȱ¬.
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Comment number 13.
At 30th Apr 2010, FleetJackHobbs wrote:hainba, In that event, I'd go for Oliver Brett.
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Comment number 14.
At 30th Apr 2010, hainba wrote:I dread to think how much of our licence fee goes towards the occasional services of Aggers (TMS & Blog). I'd do it for nothing. How about an ex-England cricketer who has played T20.
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Comment number 15.
At 30th Apr 2010, DrCajetanCoelho wrote:"Bring it" - Nice blog by Adam.
Best wishes to Jonathan Agnew and Team TMS.
Dr. Cajetan Coelho
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