Known as the 'Gentlemen's Game, it has been debated that Cricket was imported to the West Indies as an agent of control in the times of slavery and then the game steadily evolved into a cultural cornerstone.  Much of this debate has to do with the variety of ways in which cricket culture has been allowed to progress.

Regardless of how it arrived, it is now an integral part of all Caribbean culture, like hockey is to Canada or Baseball to the US.  Because of the diverse national histories in the region, styles of cricket vary a great deal from one island to the next, as does the cultural work each style perform.
1880 the first combined West Indian team was formed and toured Canada and the United States and then in the 1890s, the first representative sides were selected to play visiting English sides. This was arranged by the West Indies Cricket Board ("WICB"), and known as The Windies, the West Indies cricket team represents a sporting confederation of English-speaking Caribbean countries.

By 1926 the WICB joined the, the Imperial Cricket Council, and played their first official international match in 1928. Even though they had strong players, their successes remained sporadic until the 1960s, they changed from a white-dominated to a black-dominated.
The team from the 1970s and 1980s is still regarded as being one of the best in cricket's history, they were known for their four-man fast bowling attack, along with some of the best batsmen in the world. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, however, West Indian cricket declined, in part due to the rise in popularity of athletics and football in West Indian countries

Today the West Indies' two major domestic competitions are the Carib Beer Cup (May 2010 in Barbados)  and the KFC Cup. Other domestic competitions include the TCL Under-19 West Indies Challenge, TCL Under-19 West Indies Challenge Limited Overs Series, CLICO West Indies Under-15 competition and the WIWCF Women's Senior Tournament. One prominent former competition (not originally organized by the WICB) was the Inter-Colonial Tournament.

While travelling throughout the Islands, you will be sure to see everyone from kids to adults playing cricket. Sometimes with self made bats and tennis balls, people running with no shoes. Other times, you wouldn't be able to ignore the players on the local cricket field, as they play in their crisp white outfits. Some say they wear white due to the heat of sun, whatever the reason cricket players look fresh, clean and it will stop you in your tracks