ICC switch all set to be confirmed

BOTH Guernsey and Jersey are expected to announce within a week their decision as to whether to join the International Cricket Council. And it is highly-probable that both islands will go down the ICC route.

Last week Dave Piesing, the Channel Islands Cricket Board member who has been investigating the possible breakaway from the England and Wales Cricket Board, visited Jersey for a meeting with the island's cricketing public.

Piesing said that the main purpose was to give information on the proposal and he was delighted with the Caesareans' response.

'It was a good, very constructive and positive meeting,' he said.

'There was a very wide cross section of questions asked and a good cross section of people attended. I would say there were 30 or so there.'

Following the meeting it seems a distinct probability that both islands will apply for affiliate membership, which could be taken up in June 2005.

Guernsey have been making favourable noises about such a move since the idea came to light, but Piesing said that he was not sure which way Jersey would sway before last week's discussion.

'Going back three months I would have put Jersey's likely participation of joining at 50-50, or perhaps just 60-40 in favour.

'But in the couple of weeks leading up to the meeting things changed quite dramatically and the younger generation of cricketers were extremely keen and supportive of the move,' he said.

At the meeting Piesing was able to alleviate any worries the Caesareans had of their youngsters suffering if the ICC route was taken.

'Previously, Jersey were pretty open-minded although it would be fair to say they were concerned that going in may prejudice their participation in key festivals in the UK,' he said.

'What we did not want to do was to have their lads precluded from playing in festivals because they were playing in European competition, which could well be of a lesser standard.

'But we have addressed that and at the younger age groups, European competitions would be in addition to what they do in the UK and not instead of.

'Both islands have got a fantastic development programme in place and what the ICC can offer in the long run in terms of senior competition is far greater than the ECB.'

Now that both islands have been presented with the necessary information and assurances, Piesing believes it will be a matter of days before a decision is announced.

'Both islands decided that a decision would be announced by the end of March but I expect they will have reached their final decision in the next week or so.'

If both islands join the ICC, within a few years the Channel Islands could be in a position to host some of the biggest competitions in the European region.

'There would be great opportunities to host and co-host tournaments once we get our planned additional grass wickets here,' said Piesing.

'We could cater for 16 teams with eight matches a day, four in each island. There is only Scotland, Ireland and perhaps Holland in Europe, who can do that.

'We could offer more grass-wicket cricket to Europe because at the moment a lot of tournaments have to be played on artificial wickets.

'So it would be helpful if both Guernsey and Jersey go into the ICC. Working together must enhance the opportunity of getting good-quality cricket into the Channel Islands,' he added.