Bermuda result is just the ticket

BERMUDA have proved that Guernsey's World Cup dream is a realistic aim. The Bermudians have qualified for the 2007 World Cup to be held in the West Indies after a series of remarkable performances in the ICC Trophy currently being held in Ireland.

'From Guernsey's perspective, this is cast-iron evidence that our dreams and aspirations are realistically achievable,' said Guernsey Cricket Board chairman Dave Piesing.

As part of their warm-up for that tournament, Bermuda played Guernsey in Eastbourne and the Sarnians put up a good showing, despite it being the last game in a gruelling schedule.

'Our guys came off the pitch against Bermuda absolutely convinced that they are on a par with them and indeed would probably beat them maybe six or seven times out of 10,' said Piesing.

'Bermuda may have proved in the ICC Trophy that they were perhaps better than they showed against us, but we know that we under-performed to a degree with the bat that day as well as suffering from the third game in successive days in extremely hot temperatures.'

Depending on the final ICC Trophy placings, Bermuda will be ranked between 12th and 15th in the world for one-day international cricket and the benefits of World Cup qualification are numerous.

'Not only do they get the massive opportunity to play in the World Cup, but they also get an extra US$500,000 of funding over the next four years to invest in their development, on top of existing ICC funding, to help close the gap between the leading associate members and the full member countries. This gives them a great platform for the years ahead,' Piesing said.

'Bermuda looked a good and well-disciplined bowling unit and were excellent in the field. We learned that they had been getting together as a squad four times a week since November in preparation.

'Earning the right to play in the World Cup doesn't come easily and now their bowlers will be bowling at Gilchrist, Lara and Tendulkar in two years' time and their batsmen will be facing Lee, Harmison and Muralitharan.

'It is unquestionably the highlight of their careers and justifies all the sacrifices that their players have made and will continue to make between now and then.'

Looking ahead to Guernsey representative cricket in 2006, the senior side have a vital week-long tournament in Scotland in late July or early August.

Preparation for that game is likely to include getting a couple of major sides, potentially Denmark and the Scottish under-23 side, over to the island in May.

It may also prove necessary to bring forward the senior island game to early July as preparation for the ICC tournament for both islands.

'Just as importantly, we have to keep arranging challenging and ambitious matches for our youth sides so that they continue to get better and also make sure that we get more coaches and volunteer helpers to support our widely-envied development programme,' Piesing said.

'Qualification for the 2009 ICC Trophy and the Under-19 World Cup in 2010 remain clear and realistically achievable five-year targets for us and everything that I have seen and heard over the past few months convinces me that we are currently on track and well structured for both.

'There is a massive amount of work to be done by a large number of people to make sure that we achieve those goals. But the infrastructure and funding are both firmly in place, the facilities are 80% there and more importantly we have concrete evidence that everything we aspire to is well within our reach.'