Come on you reds - don't blow our chances

POSSIBLY for the first time ever, Guernsey will be supporting Jersey this weekend. Our neighbouring island's cricket team are in Italy to take on the Italians in a three-match series. And if the Chris Minty-managed Jersey team win one game and are seen to be competitive in another, then they will have practically guaranteed themselves associate membership to the International Cricket Council.

In turn, Guernsey will have had the door opened to them as they seek the cash cow of associate membership next year.

'I told Chris Minty yesterday that Guernsey will be supporting a Jersey sporting team like never before,' said the chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board, Dave Piesing.

'I wish them all the best on behalf of Guernsey. They are not only playing for their future, but there is a huge knock-on for us.

'In theory if they don't qualify it puts us back a year.'

Since joining the ICC in 2005, Guernsey and Jersey both have had lower ICC affiliate membership. On the strength of coming runners-up in the European Division Two Championships last summer, Jersey are now the second ranked affiliate in Europe behind the tournament winners Norway.

The top two affiliate nations from every global region are reviewed for associate membership at the ICC annual conference which this year takes place at the end of June. One of the rules for qualification demands that a candidate country has beaten at least two associate nations during the previous 24 months.

On their way to second place in the European Championships, Jersey tasted success over only one associate country, Germany. Hence they are taking on Italy, themselves an established associate member, before the annual conference in a few months' time.

If Jersey do qualify, as the third-placed affiliate country in Europe, Guernsey will jump to second. With no official tournaments taking place until after the 2008 ICC conference, Guernsey look set to have their associate membership ratified at that meeting because they defeated three such countries at the European Champ-ionships - Gibraltar, France and Israel.

According to Piesing the rewards of joining the associate ranks are great. It is believed that associate members receive around £90,000 a year in funding.

This is set to increase to up to £360,000 a year in 2009 thanks to new global television rights and profits made from the World Cup that is currently going on in the West Indies.

'The funding is at a third or a quarter of what it's likely to be in 2009 and onwards,' said Piesing.

'We need to make sure we're an associate by then. We don't want to miss out.'

So it is good news for Guernsey that Jersey have taken their strongest team possible to Italy. Steve Carlyon, the veteran left-handed opener and former Muratti goalkeeper, is back in the squad and joins his brother Tony.

Two other sets of brothers also line up - Peter and Jonny Gough and Bobby and Tom Minty.

'The guys have trained hard under Ryan Driver for several months now and we're all looking forward to the series,' said captain Matt Hague.

'This is a fantastic chance for us to move Jersey cricket forward another step and hopefully we can take it. Yes there will be pressure but once we get out onto the pitch, the players' instincts will take over I'm sure.'