Duke ruled out as problems pile up

GUERNSEY cricket officials may have to wait until after the weekend to learn the fate of their appeals to the International Cricket Council on star players Lee Savident and Jeremy Frith. With the European Champion-ships in Glasgow only 13 days away, there remains no news on whether two of the island's top guns will be available, having initially been rejected by the ICC.

No less a cricketing legend than Indian Sunil Gavaskar is involved in the appeals process and Guernsey Cricket Board chairman Dave Piesing has been assured a decision by Monday at the latest.

But, as the frustration builds, the eligibility of Savident and Frith is the least of the problems facing island manager Dave Hearse.

Rovers all-rounder Tim Duke, one of the stars of last summer's friendly one-day internationals against Namibia and Bermuda, is definitely out of the week-long European tournament due to personal reasons.

Also, two others, including Frith, have broken bones in their hands.

Frith has broken a finger in two places and batsman Richard Veillard has broken the knuckle on his left hand, although the latter remains hopeful of being fit.

'It makes planning very difficult,' said Piesing, who confirmed that Pessimists all-rounder Pierre Moody will now definitely play in Scotland.

Meanwhile, batting prodigy Tim Ravenscroft hit an unbeaten 90 as the Channel Islands under-14s beat Huntingdonshire yesterday.