England candidate joins the revolution

JACK BIRKENSHAW has accepted the role as technical director of Guernsey cricket. Guernsey Cricket Board president Dave Piesing was delighted to announce yesterday that the former England test player and Leicestershire coach had accepted the part-time role.

'This appointment is a tremendous coup for Guernsey cricket,' Piesing said.

'To have secured a coach of Jack's calibre underlines just how committed we are to ensuring that Guernsey's cricketers at all age groups are as well-prepared as they possibly can be for stepping up to international level.

'Our first competitive tournaments are not likely to be until 2006 and we have to use the interim period as wisely as possible.'

Piesing said the former test player had impeccable credentials.

'Jack is one of the most successful county coaches of the past two decades and his experience in coaching successful sides in limited-overs cricket is exceptional.

'He was considered for the England coach's role filled by Duncan Fletcher, which speaks volumes for his standing in the coaching hierarchy.'

Birkenshaw, 64 today, played a total of 490 first- class matches in a career that spanned four decades, including five caps for his country as a left-handed batsman and off-spin bowler.

He went on to serve with distinction on the first-class umpires' list before moving into coaching and as Leicestershire manager he guided the county to the championship twice in three years in the 1990s.

As far as Guernsey is concerned, Birkenshaw, who has spent a lot of time here coaching juniors in the past couple of years, will be head coach to the senior island side, working closely with manager Dave Hearse. He will also work with junior players across all the age-groups.

Piesing added: 'We have some fantastic and very well qualified coaches working with these youngsters and one of Jack's key roles will be to coach the coaches so that the legacy of his time with us is able to be carried forward for many years to come.

'It is impossible to over-estimate the potential long-term value of Jack's appointment and it helps enormously that we have come to know Jack well over the past couple of years.

'He knows the island well, knows our cricket set-up and so knows what can realistically be achieved by us.'

The island manager believes Birkenshaw's experience will be an invaluable asset to his squad.

'I think it's fantastic to have someone of that calibre, quality and track record,' said Hearse.

'It's an offer you cannot contemplate refusing.'

Hearse, who has already met Birkenshaw to discuss the role, said he did not envisage the head coach having a strong influence on selection as far as the senior team was concerned.

'I will obviously listen to what he says about players. But really that is something we've not considered at the moment.

Hearse also said that the reaction from the island squad has been 'very, very positive'.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the senior island side will play three one-day matches against the Scottish Academy side in Edinburgh at the end of May.

The hosts will be made up of players from the Scotland A and under-23 sides as well as some of their top under-19s. Birkenshaw will accompany Guernsey on that trip.

Cricket Guernsey is also in ongoing discussions over the possibility of playing Namibia, Canada and Bermuda in June as part of those countries' preparation for the ICC Trophy.

'By the end of that four-week period we will have a very good idea of what areas of our game need to be improved by the time that we are competing against those countries in ICC tournaments,' said Piesing.