"Have you ever seen lobster cooked at a cricket ground?"

The Cricketer spoke to Gullivers traveller Roger Oakes to find out what it is like to follow the England team. Here, he tells us about his experience last winter in the West Indies

Cricket touring is a unique and special experience. Commuters know that eye contact is forbidden, but on tour strangers can very quickly become close friends.

Gullivers traveller, Roger Oakes, and his wife Catherine experienced this first hand while watching England in the Caribbean last winter.

"My wife knew nothing about cricket before she met me, but she still likes to come on tour." Roger explained.

With glamourous touring destinations such as South Africa and the Caribbean who can blame Catherine for wanting to come along?

"While I go to the cricket, Catherine will often go sightseeing and on this particular trip to Barbados she stayed and relaxed at the hotel.

"She was shown around the gardens and had a wonderful time and it was here that she got to know Harriette, one of the hotel's receptionists.

"They got on so well that Harriette came to stay with us in the UK. I don't think she had ever been out of the Caribbean before.

"She spent two weeks with us in Sussex and we took her for a trip to London as well. Although we ate out mainly, she did cook us some Bajan food which we thoroughly enjoyed."

While his wife was making new friends in the hotel, Roger was soaking up the cricketing atmosphere.

"Sir Garry Sobers and Everton Weekes were being paraded around the ground. It was such a show, at lunch they were put in a carriage and driven across the outfield!"

^{Sir Garry Sobers presenting debutant John Campbell with his Test cap ahead of the match}

Speaking of lunch, there was no shortage of options for Roger to deliberate over.

"There were all sorts of cuisines around the ground. Have you ever seen lobster cooked at a cricket ground?

"All the stalls used traditional cooking utensils, the kind that our grandparents would have used. But they were all incredibly delicious, the produce was so fresh and you knew it was all top-quality food."

There was plenty of time for Roger and his wife to enjoy activities together. A major perk of being a Gullivers tourist is the social evenings they organise, which are the perfect way to unwind after a long day spent in the sun watching cricket.

And you never know, you may bump into old friends.

"We had a wonderful evening where Jonathan Agnew, Tino Best, and Matt Prior mingled with everybody and answered all of our questions. They are all so approachable. I went up to Matt Prior afterwards and he actually recognised me!

"I am the speaker secretary for the Sussex Cricket Society and once had dealings with Prior. When I spoke to him again in Barbados he remembered me."

Prior isn't the only contact that Roger has made at a Gullivers event.

"I collared Chris Cowdrey when he gave a panel talk in South Africa last year. I asked if he could speak at our society lunch and he very kindly said yes. His PA helped me organise everything and he was absolutely brilliant on the day.

"All of this came out of the Gullivers event."

Gullivers have given Roger, and the many members of the Sussex Cricket Society, plenty to be thankful for, and he is very appreciative.

"The relationships and friendships that are made on these tours are very unique and special.

"Gullivers operate like companies used to in the old days. The customer service is very personal and I can't emphasise enough how helpful everybody is."

To find out more about Gullivers' South Africa tour packages, visit www.gulliverstravel.co.uk or call 01684 878 792