2007 hopes high

GUERNSEY'S young cricketers are out to prove the benefits of the island's award-winning development programme in the summer. During a week in which local representative squads have been enjoying more sessions with Sussex coaches, development coach Jason Shambrook has admitted he has high hopes ahead of a schedule packed with festivals and tournaments.

The fixture list includes tours to the UK and festivals here, in Jersey, Shrewsbury and Taunton.

The highlights, though, are various European championships. The under-15s travel to La Manga in Spain while Jersey hosts the under-19 tournament and Guernsey under-23s will be the home side for their event.

'We are looking forward to this season and I feel confident that we will compete strongly in all the festivals,' Shambrook said.

He added that the local game had received a double boost recently with the award of the 'best overall development programme' in Europe and the news that Pricewaterhouse-Coopers have committed to continuing its support of cricket development for the next five years.

'The recognition we have received at the ICC European Awards is also extremely pleasing and shows that we are certainly doing the right thing in terms of cricket development,' said Shambrook.

'We are naturally delighted to continue our partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Through their generous support, we can expand our programmes to offer all island children the chance to play cricket.'

Steve Le Page, senior partner at PwC, added: 'Youth cricket in Guernsey is thriving at the moment and we at PwC are extremely happy that we are able to continue and strengthen our support of it.

'It is crucial that our young cricketers are offered the chance to compete against players from the UK and beyond if they are to achieve their potential and our support will help achieve that objective.'

* ON THEIR latest visit, the Sussex coaches focused primarily on bowling and wicketkeeping as they worked with the island youth squads.

Ben Haining concentrated on strength and conditioning, Andrew Hodd provided specialist wicketkeeping coaching while Andrew Cornford looked at more general all-round aspects.

The Sussex coaches also worked with Dave Hearse's senior island squad.