West Indies cricket knights joined Yorkshire stars Joe Root and Adam Lyth at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) to celebrate a momentous year of international cricket events in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority hosted the special evening with Sir Viv Richards, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Richie Richardson and Sir Andy Roberts at Headingley last night (Thursday, 25 April, 2024).
The exclusive event, which welcomed hundreds of guests including dignitaries and cricket fans in the Howard Suite, saw the world-famous West Indies cricket knights swap stories with England and YCCC player and former Test Captain, Root, and YCCC’s Lyth.
Image: Joe Root, Sir Richie Richardson, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts and Adam Lyth
The knights return to Headingley Cricket Ground brought back incredible memories of their illustrious careers, particularly for Sir Richie Richardson who became the Club’s first West Indian to represent the county in 1993.
The West Indies royalty recounted some of these memories and gave guests an exclusive opportunity to get up close and personal with themselves, in a lively Q&A session hosted by BBC sports broadcaster Jonathan Doidge.
The celebrations continued with a sumptuous Caribbean-inspired three-course dinner, followed by a vibrant musical performance from the acclaimed band Spirited, featuring Richardson Ambrose.
Antigua & Barbuda Cricket and Culture Tour – Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, England – Curtly Ambrose with Richie Richardson, Viv Richards and Andy Roberts.
The Headingley event was the third of five action-packed days for the cricket knights, as part of the UK tour celebrating the twin island nation’s rich cricketing legacy and its role as a host of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, in what promises to be an unforgettable showcase of the country’s cricketing prowess and vibrant culture.
The tour kicked off with a black-tie gala in The Thomas Lord Suite at Lord’s on Tuesday, 23 April, followed by Glasgow’s iconic Drygate Brewery to celebrate Scotland’s qualification for the T20 World Cup on Wednesday, 24 April and will conclude tonight in Leicester.
Richie Richardson & Curtly Ambrose play with their band, Spirited.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will take place from 1st to 29th June, 2024, where Antigua and Barbuda will play host to eight exciting matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Known proudly as the ‘Year of Cricket’ for Antigua and Barbuda, the twin island nation also looks forward to hosting the FairBreak T2O Challenge celebrating Women’s Cricket in July, followed by the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL24) from 28th August to 6th October, 2024, introducing the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. Additionally, England’s men will tour the West Indies for a white ball series in November, with matches expected across Antigua and the Caribbean.
