With England behind by nearly 500 runs in a Test cricket match, I caught the fourth and final day against the West Indies.

England’s Barmy Army represents

I had no idea what to expect. It was my first time in Barbados and my first time attending a cricket game. The morale on the grounds was infectious, with everyone, even the England fans, in good spirits.

Hunkered down in the shade, I was seated across from the pavilion where the cricketers watch the field - the place they wait to bat. They do not have a dugout, so they watched from the same vantage point as the spectators.

The Kensington Oval stadium

There was plenty of other entertainment on hand besides the game. A stage with live music and dancers, vendors selling colorful Barbadian souvenirs, and plenty of rum-based beverages.

Rum coconut

I recommend the rum punch and the rum coconut. Rum with fresh coconut water right from the source is a refreshing delight.

What was really commendable about the match was the display of sportsmanship. When England did well, everyone cheered, even the West Indies fans. When the West Indies did well, the England fans cheered. There was no ugly display of fights or trash talking, no tantrums or fights on the field. Instead, it was a remarkably good-natured event, one of the classiest exhibitions of athleticism and skill I have ever had the pleasure of watching. And when someone is unsportsmanlike, tried and true fans and cricketers alike have a well-known way of saying so: "that's not cricket."