Namibia wants to play Guernsey this summer

NAMIBIA are set to go from playing England to facing Guernsey within a few months. Subject to final confirmation, the African nation, which played at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and has just hosted Michael Vaughan's tourists, will play the Sarnians as part of their warm up for the ICC Trophy next summer.

'Namibia want to play us on Wednesday 22 June and then Bermuda on the Friday,' said island manager Dave Hearse. 'We will probably try to play Bermuda on the Thursday.'

The ICC Trophy is being held in Ireland in July and the Guernsey Cricket Board is trying to make the most of the opportunity to play competing nations in the build up to the tournament. The Ireland event will decide five qualifiers for the 2007 World Cup being held in the West Indies.

The Netherlands have also been touted as possible opponents for Guernsey, along with Denmark and Canada.

It is likely that any matches the GCB arrange will be played at top club grounds in Sussex.

Hearse is understandably excited at the prospect of playing ICC associate members as part of an intriguing fixture list next year.

'There is much to look forward to in 2005,' he said.

With Guernsey's application for ICC affiliate membership due to be ratified next summer, seasons of international fixtures are just beginning and Hearse wants attitudes to change accordingly.

He acknowledged that the inter-insular will always hold a special significance for islanders but he wants it put into perspective.

'Hopefully all the players will look at the Jersey game as part of the fixture list and not the be-all and end-all,' he said.

'They are all very important games and we have got to come away from thinking that we are only here to play Jersey. Players who are not picked to play Jersey could still have a game against Namibia to relish.'

* JERSEY cricket has been given a major boost by the arrival of former Worcestershire and Lancashire all-rounder Ryan Driver.

The 25-year-old has joined the teaching staff at Le Rocquier School and will play his club cricket for Romerils.

He also wants to continue playing minor counties cricket for Cornwall, for who he scored 545 runs at an average of 90.93 in eight innings last season, figures that won him the minor counties batting trophy.