Howzat? That's How It Is.

Test cricket is coming back to Barbados, and so too is a bit of chaos when trying to buy tickets. Today's Nation captures it well in words and pictures (see report):

'Three days before the start of the match, hundreds of fans turned up at the ticket booths at Kensington Oval, but many left annoyed after having to spend more than two hours in the line.'

So was it necessary for the scene to be the following? Long lines at Kensington Oval; multiple lines that then had to become one--with some ensuing disagreements; opening times not those advertised; 15-20 minutes to deal with each customer; etc. The reactions I have seen and heard from the cricket authorities suggest that they had one view about how many and who would buy tickets and will not accept that there was another way things could have been done. They are not having any responsibility for disorganization and not being prepared for a large demand just ahead of the matches. But why not another outlet for sales (the malls at Sheraton, Warrens, somewhere on the west coast, somewhere out near the east cost)? Why not the possibility of buying online or by mail for locals well ahead of the matches? They mentioned that arrangements had been made with tour operators to make tickets available in the UK ahead of travel, so that English fans would be ready to watch. But even a visit now to a web site showed the following:

• At the time of printing ticket prices have yet to be finalised by the West Indies Cricket Board. As soon as our ticket allocations have been confirmed we will contact everyone who has booked to advise the cost of your Test/ODI tickets. Test match tickets are sold to international supporters on a ‘season ticket’ basis, with no refund for unused tickets. One Day tickets are sold on a per match basis.

So, it seems that in the best circumstances, English fans would have been possible to commit funds for Test matches, on a see-or-lose basis, or buy for one-day matches. But I would be surprised if people were accustomed to buying this way.

Some friends told me how they endured two days of this chaos to get tickets for an uncle from Grenada. They are not cricket fans themselves and the last time they went to a match a riot broke out. These ladies have full time jobs. Why was the ticket sale window at Kensington closed at the weekend so that locals could more easily try to shop for the matches? When people talk about low productivity in the country they need to think about activities that waste working people's time. We the lessons of Cricket World Cup too hard to learn?

Many local people like to suggest that when things are done here they are far superior than if done elsewhere in the region. Oh yea? Why is the system so easily bowled out by these easy-to-read deliveries? I'm stumped that the 'planners' can drop the ball so easily. Time to go back to the nets and have a bit more practice. The mantra for things like this has been "That's how it is." Someone tried to tell me that it's part of the charm of living in the Caribbean. I retort "That's how you allow it to be."