The ICC European Development Programme has announced its 2010 tournament schedule which will see a number of European countries participate in an exciting and challenging programme of tournaments during July and August next year.

Continue reading "European programme for 2010 announced"

Buddika Mendis continues to shine for Singapore, who remained unbeaten in the fourth round of matches in the ICC World Cricket League Division 6. Botswana and Malaysia also notched wins, but Guernsey suffered yet another defeat. Click here for the full round-up.

Stuart Le Prevost

So today hasn’t been a great one for us, we lost our second match in the tournament and this time to Bahrain.

We didn’t play well today and that’s the fact of the matter, if we had played well and still lost then I maybe would feel better, but we didn’t we simply failed to perform, that’s all there is to it.

It’s obviously upsetting for us to lose to Bahrain again, as we lost twice to them in Division 7 and now its happened in Division 6.

Obviously all the guys are disappointed but I think generally morale is good within the team, we’ve got a good group and we’ll try and get each other motivated so hopefully we’ll rock up to the ground tomorrow and there shouldn’t be too much of a problem to get back on it and beat Norway.

The conditions here are very different to Guernsey – it’s hot and humid in Singapore and the guys are struggling to make sure that they take a lot of fluid on board. The pitches here have been good, we just haven’t bowled well on them that’s all – I’m hoping now we’re at Indian Association for two matches in a row it will mean we get more of an opportunity to analyze the pitch.

By Thursday of this week we would have played three matches in a row, but I’m not too worried about the guys being tired from it, we have to keep going to make sure we play good cricket and try our best to adapt to the conditions we’re in.

We’ve not got any niggles in the side which is good, however my room-mate Gary Rich managed to dislocate his finger today in practice which our physio popped back in so he could still play. I’ve got to say he’s been very good about the whole thing and I spoke to him about it earlier and he’s icing it ready for tomorrow game, so hopefully it’ll be fine.

Today has been a disappointing one – but we’ve got to move on and look to beating Norway, which ultimately I think we can do.

Stuart Le Prevost is the Guernsey captain, whose exclusive diary will be here throughout the tournament

Stuart Le Prevost

It’s been an interesting first day for us and admittedly losing to Singapore wasn’t great. It was a game where we did some things pretty badly and other things pretty well and we now have to move forward.

For the Guernsey side, this is probably the first time for roughly 90 per cent of the side to be playing abroad and that’s something we’ve all had to get used to. The conditions here in Singapore are extremely different to Guernsey.

It’s hot and humid and having five days out here before the tournament started has definitely helped me and the rest of the team get used to things, but we need to work harder after today’s disappointing seven-wicket loss to Singapore.

We’re up against Bahrain tomorrow, a side we’ve lost to twice before but I am hoping not to make it three times in a row. I know their game went down to the wire today against Malaysia so hopefully they’ll be fairly tired when they face us at Kalang.  
It’s something that could work in our favour, if they’re feeling tired as we finished our game fairly early today (not without a lack of trying) so we could see things go well for us. I just have to remember today’s game is in the past and it’s about looking forward and going for a win tomorrow.

I’ve really enjoyed Singapore so far,  I didn’t really know what to expect but the food has been great, good hospitality, everyone’s been very friendly and the hotel’s great, but now I’ve had my chance to explore the city with the rest of the lads, I’ve got to focus on the nitty gritty of the cricket.

Stuart Le Prevost is the Guernsey captain

There were wins for the hosts, Singapore, along with Norway and Bahrain on the opening day of the ICC World Cricket League Division 6. Click here for a full round-up, and be sure to read our exclusive player diaries from the leading figures in the tournament.

Six teams start their next step towards the 2015 World Cup on Saturday, as the ICC World Cricket League Division 6 gets underway in Singapore. The diverse nations of Bahrain, Botswana, Malaysia, Guernsey, Norway and Singapore will compete for the two places to gain promotion to Division 5, which is due to be held in Nepal in February 2010.

Click here for the full report

Full coverage, including scorecards, reports and photographs will be on Cricinfo throughout the tournament

A outstanding all-round performance from Jeremy Frith, who scored his second successive century and took five wickets, helped Guernsey secure promotion from the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 with a thumping 263-run victory against Suriname, who relegated to Division 8

Frith, who has scored 364 runs in the tournament to date, won his third man-of-the-match award this week but he was happier to focus on his side’s promotion and Sunday’s final against Bahrain than his own individual success.

“As I said earlier in the week, the man-of-the-match award is incidental. The important thing was to win the game and book a place for Singapore which is what we set out to do,” Frith said. “Stuart [Le Prevost] and I have batted well on a few occasions. It was nice to get 300 on the board, as this week we have fielded first a lot.

For a full report from this and the other matches click here

Stuart Le Prevost Guernsey captain

It’s not often that the eyes of the cricketing world take even a passing glance at Guernsey, but it is fantastic that we are staging the first qualifying event for the 2015 World Cup.

As somebody who was born on the island and has played cricket ever since I can remember, I am very proud that we are holding an international event of this magnitude and we are determined to put on a good show (if the weather will let us!)

Now, I am guessing you are probably thinking two things at the moment. Why are teams trying to qualify for the 2015 World Cup already, and where in the world is Guernsey?

Firstly, Guernsey along with Bahrain, Gibraltar, Japan, Nigeria and Suriname are taking part in the ICC World Cricket League Division 7. This is the first part of the four-year qualifying process for the World Cup in 2015, which culminates in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in 2013.

If we finish in the top two at this event, we get promoted to Division 6 and will compete in Singapore in August. If we come third or fourth, we play in Division 7 again in 2011 and if we’re relegated we go into Division 8 in 2010. The aim for us is to get as high up the ladder as we can and certainly to the same level as Jersey, currently in Division 5, who are our main local rivals and are another island in the Channel Islands. Afghanistan have shown it is possible to climb the ladder from the lower divisions and is an inspiration to all the teams at this level.

As for Guernsey, it is a small island in between England and France. In fact we are closer to France, but we seem to have inherited England’s passion for cricket! The population of the island is just over 60,000 – indeed if all the islanders came to support us at the MCG in 2015 we would still only fill two thirds of the stadium.

Guernsey is a beautiful place, with the feel of an English village about it. We have some superb beaches and it is a brilliant place for people to visit and I really hope that all the players in this competition will enjoy their time here.

There is a great passion on the island for cricket, with five divisions made up of eight adult teams playing in the midweek leagues alone. The biggest game of the year used to be against Jersey, who we play once a year in our equivalent of the Ashes, and is a match that has been played since the 1950s! It is a massive day for everybody on the island and nobody likes to be on the losing team.

As well as being captain of Guernsey, I am quite well positioned to talk about how the wickets will play in the tournament as I am one of the groundsmen on the island. The pitches normally offer something to both bat and ball, so there should be some competitive matches.

We have been lucky enough to have had some international teams come and play here before. A couple of years ago, Bermuda toured here and although they beat us, I don’t think there was a massive gulf between the sides. Knowing you have played against people who have played in the World Cup makes you dream that you can compete with sides at a higher level.

It will be a great effort if we can get promoted this week and a trip to Singapore in August for Division 6 would be an amazing experience. We have seen how much Jersey benefited from playing in the World Cricket League, getting to travel to places like Tanzania, and I am excited about having our moment in the spotlight.

Stuart Le Prevost is one of a number of players blogging for Cricinfo during the WCL Division 7

Tony Munro

Guernsey will continue their preparations for the World Cricket League Division Seven this weekend with two matches against near neighbours Jersey. The matches will be part of a lengthy buildup for the tournament to be played in Guernsey from May 17-24 which also involves Bahrain, Gibraltar, Japan, Nigeria and Suriname.

Last weekend Guernsey played a match against a Sussex Cricket Academy XI containing about five first team regulars while some of the team members played the same opposition two days later as part of a Development (Under-23) XI. The regular domestic season also starts this weekend providing Guernsey players with two rounds of competitive cricket before the Division Seven tournament.

Meanwhile, the hosts have announced their squad for the tournament, which contains four players new to international cricket at the ICC level - Ross Kneller, Justin Meades, Tom Kimber and Mark Renouf. Stuart Le Prevost, who captained Guernsey to the final of last year's European Second Division tournament, has been retained as skipper while Andy Cornford of Sussex CC would be coach.

Guernsey: Stuart Le Prevost (capt), Lee Savident, Matthew Oliver, Jeremy Frith
Ross Kneller, Justin Meades, Gary Rich, Ben Ferbrache, Kris Moherndl, Jamie Nussbaumer, Blane Queripel, Stuart Bisson, Tom Kimber, Mark Renouf; Dave Hearse (manager)

ICC Europe has announced the regional winners of the ICC Development Programme Awards for 2008.

Continue reading "ICC Europe announces 2008 awards"

Guernsey will play in Division 7 of the World Cricket League next season, a reward for their runners-up place in the European Division Two tournament held in August. BBC Guernsey has the full story.

ICC Europe development manager Richard Holdsworth told BBC Guernsey that the island deserves its place.

"Because of their good performances in the European league and their regional ranking they've been promoted into World League Seven," he said.

They will face Gibraltar, Bahrain, Japan, Nigeria and Surinam in a tournament next year at a venue that has yet to be announced.

Tony Munro

The two best teams in the recent European Division Two tournament, undefeated Guernsey and Jersey, fittingly met in the final round of matches to decide the title (no final having been scheduled). Guernsey needed nine from three overs with six wickets in hand, yet Stuart Le Prevost, the Guernsey captain, was dismissed at the start of the 48th over. Two late run-outs, and Jersey were jubilant. Cricinfo spoke to the Jersey coach, Peter Kirsten, and Le Prevost, about the final, and the tournament in general

	Peter Kirsten, the former South Africa batsman, and Jersey's coach © Getty Images

Peter Kirsten

How are your nerves after the way Jersey secured the win?

PK: It was a memorable match, emotions ebbing and flowing continuously. I always felt though that if we could dismiss their main batsman even with them cruising at 170 for 3 we would still be in the match as he was beginning to look lazy (already dropped twice) and the Jersey spinners were bowling well. This is exactly what happened - three run-outs ensued due to panic and the spinners were always going to be difficult for new batsmen to handle under pressure. It was still very tight though and our fast bowlers were also able to bowl magnificently at the end. Nerves there were aplenty but our disciplines, belief & work ethic won through in the end.

Which aspect of the team's performance were you especially happy with?

PK: Since my term with Jersey cricket began on April 17 2008, we have trained according to various programs. These have included fitness and preparation, but also the introduction of promising youngsters in various positions, and the mantra of playing as a team and importantly developing a sound relationship with the captain and manager. Many of these aspects we executed well to remain unbeaten in the last six matches and have lost only 1 in the last 12 matches.

In which areas would you like to see Jersey improve for the ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament?

PK: The Tanzania tournament poses different challenges for Jersey. Firstly it is away from the Channel Islands - playing in Africa is vastly foreign to them - different wickets, climate and so on. However, they will be prepared as mentioned before and a solid, well composed team has been selected. Again some talented youngsters have been included which brings good energy to the squad. Physical fitness, strategy are key areas of our preparation during September.

	Stuart Le Prevost, Guernsey's captain © thisisguernsey.com

Stuart Le Prevost

How has Guernsey found the transition from playing against English domestic opposition such as in the Four Islands tournament, to playing the various Associates? Has it been good for the team's cricket?

SLP: Playing against the Associate members of the ICC has improved our game no end. We definitely up our game when we play better sides so it can only be good for us to keep punching at, and above, our weight rather than playing mediocre club sides on mini tours. I think we take more responsibility in tougher games which we need to transfer into every game at club and Island level.

Which aspect of your team's play during the tournament were you most pleased with?

SLP: I think our batting came good during the tournament (except for 20 minutes at the end of the last game). We had not performed well as a batting unit for the whole of the summer so we were under a bit of pressure in that department going into the tournament so it was pleasing to chase pretty well and also to set decent totals during the week.

Who would you say was your best batsman and bowler and why?

SLP: I think our best bowler was off-spinner Gary Rich. Rarely does he bowl badly and his economy rate is always good which creates pressure and in turn often ends in a decent wicket haul for him too.

Our most consistent batsman was Jeremy Frith. He is at home whether we are setting totals or chasing them down. His quick assessment of what is a good score on certain pitches often puts us exactly where we need to be.

Which player from the other teams most impressed you and why?

SLP: I think Jersey's Ryan Driver impressed me most. His allround game is very good and invariably if he plays well, Jersey play well. His century against us in the recent championship was well paced and he didn't give a chance. He also bows pretty accurately and has bucket hands.

Look out soon for our interview with the Gibraltar captain, Christian Rocca, and France coach, Dave Szumowski

The ICC European Division 2 Championship gets underway on Monday in Guernsey. Six countries - Croatia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Jersey - will compete for the title, and their finishing positions will determine their potential entry into the proposed expansion of the World Cricket League.

Click here for the full preview.

Jersey retained the Inter-Insular Challenge Trophy with a three-wicket victory over Guernsey at Grainville.

Guernsey, who were elected to Associate status by the ICC in July, lost early wickets after winning the toss and struggled to 119 all out in 46 overs, with Jeremy Frith’s 38 the only innings of substance. Jersey found the going equally difficult, but Ryan driver followed his two wickets with an gritty unbeaten 45 to steer them home.

Kenya’s preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers took a dent when they were well beaten by an Abeed Janmohamed XI at Cranleigh School. Janmohamed, who played for Kenya in 2004-05, led a strong side which included New Zealand’s Grant Elliott.

Kenya started well, reaching 81 for 1 before suffering a mid-innings collapse that left them 133 for 6 off 34 overs. Alex Obanda made a confident fifty but there was little else of note, and Steve Tikolo made only 1. Teenger Phil Roper, like Janmohamed, a product of Cranleigh School, took 2 for 20 off 10 overs, while Luke Woodcock returned 3 for 18. In the end, Kenya limped to 162 all out in 43 overs.

Elliott smashed 77 as Kenya’s bowlers were struck to all parts, while Seren Waters made 47. Waters, the son of former Kenya chief selector David Waters, left Cranleigh earlier this month and made the second-highest number of runs in the school’s history in 2008. He has already represented Surrey 2nd XI. Janmohamed’s side romped to a five-wicket win.

Twenty-four hours later, Kenya got back on track with a win at Hove against Guernsey, but again the side ranked as the leading Associate were forced to struggle after being bowled out for 194. Tikolo again failed, making 4, as Kenya slipped to 51 for 4 before Thomas Odoyo (61) bailed them out. Guernsey never challenged after being reduced to 40 for 6, although they did well to make 122 in 44.4 overs.

Guernsey have become the 34th country to be granted Associate membership of the ICC after their application was unanimously approved during the annual conference in Dubai.

Vanuatu had also applied but they failed to meet the necessary playing requirements as they had not beaten two existing Associates in competition. Mozambique withdrew their application.

A further three countries from the Europe region - Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey - were granted Affiliate status, taking the ICC's total member count to 104.

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Continue reading "Future bright beyond the Test world"

It may be three long years years away, but the road to the 2011 World Cup begins this week in the unlikely setting of Jersey. More famed for its cattle and potatoes than a venue for cricket tournaments, Jersey plays host to 12 of the world's lesser-known teams in Division 5 of the World Cricket League (WCL), as they battle to climb the ladder to the fourth division and dream of a World Cup place in Asia.

Will Luke previews Division 5 of the World Cricket League which gets underway this week.

Three countries have applied for ICC Affiliate membership and two more to be upgraded from Affiliate to Associate membership.

Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey’s applications for Affiliate membership will be considered by the ICC and its annual conference in Dubai at the end of June.

Guernsey and Vanuatu have applied for an upgrade to Associate membership which, if successful, will mean a substantial increase in the funding available to their national associations.

Consideration of Vanuatu's application is subject to it meeting the playing standard criterion in its matches against existing Associates in the World Cricket League Division 5. An ICC team is inspecting the facilities in Guernsey this week.

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

Guernsey and Jersey are the two new additions to the European Under-15 and Under-17 Division One Championships for 2008. It is the first time more than four teams have battled for the title since the tournament began in 1999.

In 2007 Jersey won the Under-19 and Under-23 Division 2 Championships and were runner-up to Guernsey in the Under-15 Division 2 Championship. Both sides did not lose a single match, other than to one another, in any of the competitions.

The two championships will be the first real test of Guernsey and Jersey since their elevation to ICC Associate status.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for Guernsey's young cricketers to test themselves against the strongest nations in Europe at their own age group," David Piesing, chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board said. "Young players can only benefit from playing against strong opposition and in the past couple of years these youngsters have acquitted themselves well in friendlies against Scotland and Holland so they will be keen to renew those acquaintances.

"Our Under-15s showed this year that they were a very strong side by winning the Division 2 tournament in La Manga. Five or six of those same players are still in the Under-15s in 2008 while the remainder of that squad will now move to the Under-17s age group.

"We are delighted that ICC Europe has recognised the playing strength of our youth sides in this way and we eagerly look forward to the challenges ahead. It will provide an additional impetus for our youngsters as they enter this winter's coaching programme."

The Under-17 Division One tournament will be held in Belfast over four days in July 2008. Six teams will form two groups of three, with each team playing two 50-over matches over the first three days. Following a coaching day, each team will play-off against its counterpart from the other group to determine the final championship standings.

The Under-15 Division two championship will take place in Jersey, also in July, and will be played to 45-over playing conditions.

Scotland host the Under19- Division One championship in August, with the same playing conditions as the Under-19 World Cup, whilst remaining a four-team competition. And Germany will host the Under-17 Division Two championship in the Northern Rhine region surrounding Düsseldorf.

Dates and precise venues of all events have yet to be finalised.

The ICC Europe Cricket Committee (ECC) have confirmed Ireland as the host for next year's European Division One Championship.

They lasted hosted the tournament in 2002 when 12 teams participated. In the past five years, however, six more countries have joined including Europe's four High Performance Program countries: Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. Norway - who won Division Two in 2006 - also join Italy.

The previous championship, hosted by Scotland in 2006, crowned Ireland as the European Champions and 2008's event will also feature three official one-dayers.

Meanwhile it was also confirmed that Guernsey will host the Division Two Championship in August, a six-team tournament which includes France, Germany, Gibraltar and Jersey. The sixth place will be decided later this year when Croatia meet Israel on November 18.

Guernsey secured their first ever title when they beat Jersey in the final of the European Under-15 Division 2 Championship in La Manga, Spain on Saturday. Click here to read the full story.

The European Cricket Council has announced a deal with ICC Europe, ECB and Premium TV to make ECBtv available on subscription throughout Europe.

In many areas of Europe there is no access to TV highlights of matches, and this move looks to make coverage accessible to everyone.

"ECB is pleased and excited to be able to offer Europe’s cricket fans access to ECBtv and it is hoped that it will take the game to previously uncharted areas, inspiring people to get involved in this great sport,” Richard Holdsworth, the ICC’s regional development manager, said. "Delivering live video coverage via broadband to European territories has brought people closer to the game than ever before.”

ECBtv shows Test and one-day international matches live to certain territories, as well as match highlights, exclusive interviews, press conferences, coaching master classes and many other features to a global audience. Live streams start at £2.99. Click here for full details.

The ICC has announced the regional winners of the ICC Development Program Awards 2006 with Guernsey, Jersey and Ireland coming out on top for the European Region.

Continue reading "Guernsey, Jersey and Ireland big winners for Europe"

It won't get many column inches in the mainstream cricket press, but the World Cricket League, which started in Nairobi yesterday and continues into next week, features the best of the rest, the six sides just under the ten Test-playing countries. For the two finalists, the rewards are bountiful - a place among the big boys in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September, along with $250,000. For countries used to surviving on annual handouts from the ICC of less than $200,000, that's big money.

Continue reading "A long way from home"

Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel islands are set to host their first international tournaments in 2007. Jersey will host the European Under-19 Championship, while Guernsey is set to host the first European Under-23 Second Division Championship, featuring both Channel Island teams, Italy, and either France or Gibraltar.

The European Cricket Council's European Cricket Championships, which are being held in Scotland, are the first to be organised under the auspices of the International Cricket Council’s World Cricket League.

The tournament will feature 13 countries in two divisions playing 30 matches in seven days at 12 west of Scotland grounds, starting on Thursday (August 3).

The Division 1 sides - Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Italy - will play a round-robin tournament, from which there is no relegation. The three matches involving the first three named teams are deemed by the International Cricket Council as official One-Day Internationals, and will be played at Ayr Cricket Club, where ground facilities have been upgraded with support from South Ayrshire Council.

Scotland’s other two matches will be played at New Anniesland (against Denmark) and Hamilton Crescent (against Italy).

Division 2 consists of eight teams - France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hellas (Greece), Israel, Jersey and Norway - who will play in two initial pools of four, followed by crossover semi-finals and four ranking finals - and one team will be promoted to the first division in two years’ time. The facilities at all grounds have been equipped with additional weather protection and other enhancements, thanks to a range of local authority grants and commercial support.

A huge bonus is available for the Division 2 teams, with the winners not only promoted to the European Division 1 in 2008, but also a place in the new ICC World Cricket League Division 5 in 2007-08. This team will receive $20,000 towards preparation of that event, the venue of which is still to be decided.

In April, Jamie Nussbaumer, James Mullen and Johnny Clark are off to Spain and the La Manga sport resort to undergo intensive week-long training programmes. Nussbaumer has been selected for the European Cricket Council’s cricket academy, a fact which will also see him play for the under-21 European side against England under-17s during the summer, while Mullen and Clark have made it into the ECC’s Centre of Excellence.

[Via This Is Guernsey]