It might only be a speck in the Caribbean covering no more than 600 square kilometres, the population might be less than 160,000 in total and the island may never have produced a Test cricketer, but St Lucia is destined to become the next venue for international cricket.

When asked about Test grounds in the West Indies, there is no shortage of historic venues that slip off the tongue. The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, are evocative names conjuring up vivid images of the great West Indian quicks pounding away at touring sides, or visiting bowlers struggling to keep Lara, Richards, Greenidge and Haynes in check.

However, Caribbean cricket is not so steeped in history that it cannot contemplate change. A new Test venue appeared in 1997 when the picturesque Arnos Vale ground in St. Vincent hosted West Indies against Sri Lanka. A new ground was opened in Grenada in April, 1999, but that has yet to reach Test status.

Now St. Lucia's contribution to Caribbean cricket heritage is scheduled to be completed in March 2002, with two one-day internationals planned in May when the West Indies take on India. Test cricket will, hopefully, follow and then there is the 2007 World Cup when St. Lucia's new facilities will form an integral part of the programme.

This is going to be a state-of-the-art ground, set in the Beausejour Hills of Gros Islet, not far from the tourism centre at Rodney Bay to reflect the easily recognised link between international sport and tourism. But while the St. Lucia National Cricket Ground will provide modern, clean amenities, it will not be a clinical, sanitised venue without atmosphere. It will still have all the colour, noise and passion without which West Indian cricket would be so much poorer.

Such facilities do not come cheaply. The project has a budget of EC$35 million, financed primarily through the national lottery on the island with supplementary funding coming from the government of St. Lucia. This is not seen as an outlay but as an investment, bearing in mind the link between tourism and sport mentioned earlier.

It is interesting to note that this project was the initiative of the government through the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports. Ernest Hilaire, the permanent secretary, is directly responsible and, with a committee comprising the St. Lucia Tourist Board, organisers of the world-renowned St. Lucia Jazz Festival, and the St. Lucia National Cricket Association, have promised a cricketing weekend in May 2002 unseen before in the West Indies.

Add to that the fact that the new ground was promised in the Labour Party manifesto prior to the 1997 elections, and you can see that there are some powerful forces behind its construction. Work commenced in early 2001, after the plans had been formulated in 1998.

Of course, it would be the last part in the jigsaw if the island itself could provide an international player to be able to claim that he is playing "at home." It might be able to do so as far as the women are concerned, for St. Lucia have been women's champions for the past three years and can boast at least five members of the West Indian women's team, including the captain.

However, there is a distinct hope that a St. Lucian could be representing the West Indies on his home ground during the 2007 World Cup. Darren Sammy will go to the youth world cup in New Zealand in January as a member of the West Indies Under 19 team. It would be just perfect if he comes through to the full side in time for that date in 2007.

© CricInfo