By Nishad Pai Vaidya From Cricket Country

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Chris Gayle, Andre Russell entertain crowd
The West Indies were welcomed in Perth with a typical Caribbean party ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 clash against India. The party had the aura, the atmosphere, the colours, and the music of the Caribbean: you could well have been at Jamaica or Barbados. There was that typical food, the drinks, and the calypso; and then, out came the West Indian cricketers to dazzle on the stage. Andre Russell and Chris Gayle entertained the crowd with some music and won hearts. Nishad Pai Vaidya writes about an evening to remember.

When you land in Perth, what strikes you is the serenity of the city. Unlike Melbourne, Perth is a sleepy city — roads are almost deserted after sunset, restaurants shut shop after 9 PM. If you come from a happening place like Melbourne, Perth presents a culture shock. Barring the odd locality like Murray Street, Perth is largely calm and laidback, unlike its trendier Australian cousins on the other coast.

But, on Sunday evening, Perth came alive, for it was a night that welcomed the Calypso Kings on board. The West Indians were in town ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 clash against India, and Perth swayed her hips to the rhythm. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Pool-wise Team Standings

Set in the Perth Cultural Centre, with the State Library of Western Australia in the backdrop, the James Street Amphitheatre was the epicentre of the party. The Western Australian Government had organised a special welcome for the West Indies team, with the fans in attendance. There was Caribbean food, of which the Jamaican Jerk Chicken was the biggest hit. The chicken was grilled on fire with the spices from Kingston Town; there were drinks — of which the spiced rum was the most popular; you could have mistaken it for the land of Bob Marley, of the city where Harry Belafonte left a little girl behind.

But the show had only begun, as the West Indies team — the show-stoppers of the evening —arrived sharp at 6 PM and took stage. Western Australia welcomed them with a few festivities. The crowd spotted people from the Caribbean donning the West Indies maroons. The 1992 World Cup jersey was perhaps the most popular one as there were many on show.

But the centre of attention was the stage: the West Indies team obliged their fans with autographs and posed for innumerable selfies. While Chris Gayle was the most sought-after player, Curtly Ambrose and Richie Richardson were also mobbed by fans. Selfies with Ambrose were a tough task — fans had to outstretch their arm even as he tried to bend to get into the frame. This was the same man that had terrified batsmen over the world into submission two decades back. How are they suddenly so human these days
In the backdrop, there was a band playing Calypso. Everything was moving as expected. Then, suddenly, Gayle joined the singer in her lyrics. Pointing to his teammates, he persuaded Andre Russell to get up on stage. In tandem, they dazzled, pulling a bit of their dance moves, while Russell brought the crowd to life with his vocals.

When Russell finished a number, Gayle asked the crowd, “Do you want him to leave?” A huge “no” emerged from the crowd, and Russell obliged with another song as Gayle tried his hand at some “background music.”

In front of the stage, there was a swarm of people, all dancing to the calypsos. The West Indies team then quietly retired into the night, but the party continued. The music was infectious: even if you had two left legs you could not help but hum and move your body.

West Indians are probably the coolest men to have taken up the willow or the cherry. Their cricket may have gone downhill over the years, but their attitude has not. Even after a humiliating defeat against South Africa, their hips and legs still respond: that defeat, after all, was on another day. This was a new city, and a new contest awaited them. On field against India they would give it their all, but why spoil the evening with mundane formalities when there is a party around? READ: West Indies mauled by South Africa

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)

IMAGES:
The West Indies players are all smiles in anticipation of a grand evening. Photo Courtesy Nishad Pai Vaidya
IMG_20150301_184108 Jerome Taylor, Nikita Miller and Dwayne Smith look on. Photo Courtesy Nishad Pai Vaidya
Plenty of fans were in attendance to greet the calypso kings. Photo Courtesy Nishad Pai Vaidya
Chris Gayle and Andre Russell stole the show. Photo Courtesy Nishad Pai Vaidya
For more on this story go to: http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-chris-gayle-andre-russell-entertain-crowd-in-typical-caribbean-party-in-perth-258605