Leaving Sydney with their spirits down after their worst loss in a one-day international, the West Indies will feel much better when they are greeted with a Caribbean welcome at Perth, the venue for their next World Cup match on Friday.
The West Indies was hammered by South Africa, by a record breaking 257 runs, in its fourth match of the 2015 World Cup in Sydney on Friday.
The team now needs to defeat the powerful Indians and the United Arab Emirates to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The regional team has had an up-and-down tournament thus far, losing to minnows Ireland before crushing Pakistan and Zimbabwe and then themselves being crushed by South Africa. It has put them at the edge and a defeat to India could see them barely in, with a chance of making the knockout stage.
The authorities at Perth have organised a gala welcome ceremony at the James Street Amphitheatre, the cultural centre in Perth, for the team today and have decided to put a Caribbean spin on proceedings.
Western Australia minister of Tourism, Dr Kim Hames will address the West Indies team, while Dr Richard Walley will make the presentation of a “message stick” to West Indies captain Jason Holder.
Twelve-year-old Tahj Reid, a Jamaican, will sing the West Indies Cricket Anthem. There will also be a performance by Australia’s leading world musician Grace Barbe and the Perth Pandemix Steel Orchestra will beat out tunes that is expected to make the West Indians feel at home.
The West Indies left Sydney at lunchtime yesterday for four-and-three-quarter hour flight to Perth and will have a few days rest before their next match against India on March 6.
Since arriving for the World Cup the team has been on a hectic schedule, playing four matches in two countries and four different cities but their next two games are spaced out over 15 days. After the India clash, they fly back to New Zealand to battle the UAE on March 15.