Competition for places paramount

PLAYERS in form and not past reputations: that will be the Mavericks captain's criterion when selecting his Cable & Wireless Championship sides this summer. Glenn Milnes has emphasised the importance of competition for places in any club to bring the best of out players and he believes the merger between St Pierre and Taverners for weekend cricket will produce that in the new club.

'It should be hard to get into a club's first team,' said the Guernsey all-rounder.

Milnes reported that there were times last year when it was difficult for St Pierre to get out a side that was of true GCA Championship quality - a problem that should now be solved.

'The squad is looking quite good. Obviously, the Taverners lads will help improve it and hopefully there might be one or two new players as well.

'It is an exciting time and we should have a good side,' said Milnes.

However, the skipper is not setting any particular targets for the first team. He is looking more at how the club as a whole gets off the ground.

'The aims are more on how we are going to run the sides.

'We want to get things organised properly, get some good practice and training in and hopefully the results will follow.'

Mavericks vice-captain Robbie Moore wants his Taverners players to make the most of any opportunity they get to feature in Championship matches.

Taverners topped the 2003 League but decided to turn down promotion under their own banner in favour of a merger.

'After the euphoria of winning the League last year, it was disappointing to know that we would not be going up as Taverners,' said Moore.

'But from our point of view, this is a natural progression and I believe St Pierre feel the same.

'It is good that everyone is going to have the chance of playing in the Championship. It is a positive thing for us.'

Moore is delighted that Mavericks, who will be sponsored by the Randy Paddle, have someone of Milnes' calibre to lead the club into its first season.

'Certainly everyone respects Glenn. To have someone of his profile and experience as captain will be beneficial for the club and for the youngsters.

'Glenn and I come from off the island and we played for clubs where simply the best players and those in form were in the team - it is not favouritism. We want competition for places and we have enough players in the squad to create that.'

The development of young players is something on which Taverners are particularly keen.

Moore believes this weekend merger will undoubtedly help the progression of players such as Jonathan Wilkes-Green and Ben Ferbrache who were introducted to the club's first team last season.

'Last year we took a bit of a gamble in some respects in seeing how they would react to playing Division One Evening League cricket but they all contributed at some stage and the experience they picked up will be invaluable.

'We are now looking for them to progress and I am sure Glenn and the other St Pierre players will influence them.

'What we are hoping for is that, by playing with people such as Dave Hearse, Vince Kenny and Jarrod Avery, it will give an edge to the Taverners players.

'They have a habit of winning and hopefully it will rub off,' he said.

Moore also reported that Taverners and Mavericks could be strengthened by the addition of one of his former Twickenham teammates, Justin Scriven, who is looking at the possibility of coming to the island this summer.