Savident wins first European call up

LEE SAVIDENT will feature in Europe's inaugural regional match later this month. The Hampshire-based Guernsey all-rounder was yesterday named in the 12 for the match against MCC A in Rotterdam on 29 June.

'I knew I'd been nominated but I'm still happy to get in,' said the former Hampshire player.

To make the 12 represents a major achievement for the man whose professional career ended after persistent back problems.

He was one of three Guernsey players - the others being Jeremy Frith and Ami Banerjee - who were on a shortlist of 34 nominations.

Dave Piesing, the Guernsey Cricket Board chairman, called it a 'fantastic achievement for Lee and a big highlight in his career'.

'It's a great moment for Guernsey to see it's only home-produced professional cricketer selected at such a high level,' he said.

'The side was selected strictly on merit and only players with first-class experience were considered.

'Lee's performance in Edinburgh last year were witnessed and obviously noted by Peter Drinnen, the Scottish national coach.'

Savident is chosen alongside four of the Irish team who played England this week, four Scots, two Dutch players and Denmark's Freddie Klokker who made his first-team debut for Warwickshire earlier this season.

Apart from Klokker and Savident, the rest are likely to feature in next year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

'It looks quite a good side,' said Savident, who has been in fine form for his new club, BAT, in the Southern Electric Premier League.

With one century and two fifties, he is averaging 59 and is second in the league aggregate. He also hit a half-century for an island XI against Bermuda at KGV.

Piesing says European representative fixtures will steadily build up.

'The introduction of a regional European side is likely to develop in due course, possibly into one regional one-day game and four-day and even test matches against other regional composite sides from Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Americas.'

Savident said he was happy to play one-day representative games but three-day matches or longer would not be for him and his dodgy back.