GCB want to push boundary

THE Guernsey Cricket Board aim to build on last year's successes with the biggest and busiest summer season yet for junior development and wants a big increase in the number of girls playing. And after winning the ICC (European division) awards for the best overall cricket-development programme and the best women's initiative, head coaches Jason Shambrook and Jonny Orme are keen not to sit still.

'We were naturally delighted to have won these awards after a very successful 2006 season. We only hope that 2007 will be even better throughout the leagues and the island squads.' said Orme.

'I really want to see girls' cricket move up another level this year and build on the success of 2006,' he added.

Last summer over 60 girls played cricket on Thursday nights, ranging from school Years 3 to 10.

This year, the GCB want to double the number of girls playing.

The programme for them is still based around Thursday nights, with Years 7 to 10 playing hard ball cricket along with coaching, while Years 3-6 will participate in a league format, playing numerous games over the summer.

The overall picture is that the 2007 schedules are busier than ever.

Easter comprises two weeks of batting, bowling, fielding and tactical workshops, designed for children from Years 3 to 10.

The first session runs from Monday 2 until Thursday 5 April and offers tactical information and game situations for Years 3 to 6.

Years 7 to 10 will have open net sessions, whereby children can attend and use the nets to improve their game using video analysis.

The second session runs for three days from Tuesday 10 April and involves batting and bowling workshops designed to help children with the basics of the game before the summer season.

The summer schedule is packed with cricket from the under-nine programme all the way up to the under-15 league.

Each age group has an island representative squad, which will participate in numerous fixtures both home and away.

The under-nine programme, which runs on Tuesdays, is open to children in Years 3 and 4 and can accommodate up to 100.

Under-11 cricket will be played on Monday evenings, involving those from Years 5 and 6.

The under-13 league is open to all children in Years 7 and 8 and will be on Wednesdays.

It is aimed to have eight teams, seven of them being under-13s, while the other will be the under-11 island team.

The under-15 age group, which meets on Fridays, will comprise six teams - three of them the under-15s, one the under-13 island squad, one the Sirens women's team and the other the under-15s league title-holders Rovers.

If you would like your child to play cricket, please contact the Guernsey Cricket Board, which is based at Beau Sejour, for more information on 722950 or cicb@cwgsy.net.