Island players face a steep learning curve

JACK BIRKENSHAW has made an instant impression on the island senior squad. The Guernsey Cricket Board technical director met the players officially for the first time on Friday. That was followed on Sunday by a five-hour training session, involving both fitness and net work.

'To say that it was a bit of a wake-up call for the players is something of an understatement,' said Guernsey captain Andy Biggins.

'It was an intense morning's work that confirmed just how much we have to do to compete at a level that is essentially a semi-professional one.

'Jack is a very approachable coach and his experience and success demand respect. He appears to have a relaxed coaching style and he tends to go about his business in a quiet way.

'He has made it clear that he is going to make the effort to get to know everyone in the squad and it is obvious, even at this early stage, that he cares a great deal for the future of the game in the island.'

With the challenges that lie ahead for the seniors, it should not come as a surprise that the training session, which was run mainly by Gloucestershire fast bowler Steve Kirby, at the invitation of Birkenshaw, was rigorous.

'Steve highlighted how fit professional cricketers are,' said Biggins. 'It is something for players in the squad to aspire to.

'Getting fit is up to them. It will benefit their game and help the Guernsey side when we are playing high-quality matches on consecutive days, as will be the case next season.

'It was encouraging that every player in the squad responded to what was asked of him, however alien it might have seemed. Their attitude was fantastic.'

All the hard work is necessary because Guernsey will have no time to experiment when it plays in an ICC tournament for the first time in 2006.

Providing that affiliate membership is ratified at next summer's annual meeting, the prime objective for Guernsey will be to qualify for the 2009 ICC Trophy, which is likely to be held in either the United Arab Emirates or Malaysia.

But qualification can be a lengthy process and the Sarnians need to make an instant impression.

This is best demonstrated by working backwards from 2009.

Based on the current system, to qualify automatically from the European region, Guernsey would need to be the fourth-best team in Europe at the 2008 European World Cup Qualifying Tournament. Fifth place would take a side through to the global play-offs.

The European Cricket Council has already confirmed that the four teams in the European Championship First Division will no longer qualify automatically as in previous years.

Although Scotland, Ireland and Holland are likely to be given automatic qualification, the next two places will be wide open. Denmark will have to go through the qualifying phase and compete with the likes of Italy, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and any other countries which emerge between now and 2008.

It is likely that finishing positions in the 2007 and 2006 European tournaments will be the basis for a five or six-team European World Cup qualifying tournament.

Therefore, Guernsey must do well immediately.

'There will be no time to find our feet. We have to hit the ground running,' said GCB chairman Dave Piesing.

'We have just over 18 months to improve our game, both collectively and individually, before our first tournament in 2006.

'That period must inevitably show a steep upward curve in technical ability, game awareness and fitness. The upward curve must then continue right through to 2009 and beyond, but the steepest curve will be between now and July 2006,' he said.

To assist the learning, Guernsey will be playing some very competitive 'friendlies' next summer.

Three games against the Scotland Academy side have been confirmed for May and the opposition will be on a par with Denmark. On their return to the island, Guernsey will immediately meet the MCC, who are likely to be as strong as this year when the team included full Ireland representatives.

Less than a month later comes the possibility of playing sides such as Namibia, who will be preparing for the ICC Trophy at the start of July.

All those games will provide pointers to Guernsey on where they need to improve and how well they can compete.

'Players are beginning to accept that this is a new era for Guernsey cricket and, while the work load will increase significantly, the rewards are huge,' said Biggins.