KEY POINTS:
As the actual game of cricket temporarily takes a backseat to a murder investigation here in the Caribbean, it's been an interesting exercise taking in the locals' reactions.
Specifically the younger generation, of which many are not interested in the World Cup beyond the murder headlines.
This is a group of nations that mostly have historical ties to England or France, but the American influence is now everywhere.
Sports bars with a dozen television screens only show ESPN, live college basketball, and even Canadian ice hockey.
TV channels are predominantly American showing Fox, CNN, ABC and a couple of New York specific channels.
I've only tuned in a few times but I now know the 7th Avenue traffic in New York is a nightmare when it snows, from three different traffic reporters' perspectives.
Only one local channel shows the cricket matches live.
The West Indies may have had a strong hold on cricket in the 80s, and there is no doubt Brian Lara is a legend, but there seems to be a change in the younger generation's sporting preferences.
Many play soccer.
On the island of St Kitts a brand new stadium was built for this World Cup, but a collegue who was there last week told me few locals are interested in cricket – spectators were minimal – and the majority of the stadium's use will be for soccer matches after the stumps have been pulled out for the last time.
Basketball is also increasingly popular. In St Lucia hoops adorn walls all over the place.
But the most telling sign for me was the young taxi driver in Barbados who had to ring his brother to get directions to the cricket ground we wanted to go to. When his brother couldn't help the driver ended up stopping at a shop, yet still having to wave down a passing motorcyclist for directions.
We eventually got there, but if this is any indication of the next generation, the West Indies' cricketing future may not return to the strength it once had.
