ICC region boss backs Guernsey as ideal venue
ONE of the top men in European cricket has said Guernsey is looking strong to host next year's European Division Two Championship and to secure associate membership to the International Cricket Council.
ONE of the top men in European cricket has said Guernsey is looking strong to host next year's European Division Two Championship and to secure associate membership to the International Cricket Council. Richard Holdsworth, the ICC regional development manager for Europe, was in the island last week for the European Under-23 Division Two Championship.
Even though the rain marred the competition, Holdsworth was impressed by how well the Guernsey Cricket Board had organised the event.
The GCB now hope to host the full senior version next summer.
The major plus in the island's favour is that with the new square at Port Soif there are now three grass wickets in the Bailiwick.
Most of the other countries in Division Two, such as Germany and France play the majority of their cricket on artificial or matting wickets and have very few or no grass ones.
'Despite the weather the pitches have played really well,' said Holdsworth.
'Port Soif has played really well despite being only two years old.
'The weather has been horrendous, but the ground staff have been tremendous.
'The Division Two championship needs to be played on grass so that goes in Guernsey's favour. It's a six-team tournament so you need three wickets.'
Possibly the biggest rival to host the tournament is Jersey.
But the Caesareans are already holding the World League Division Five in the early part of the 2008 summer and will probably not put themselves forward for the European Division Two event.
'Jersey have got the world league and they are deep in the organisation of that so it's unlikely they will be too keen to take on too much more,' said Holdsworth.
Another advantage that Guernsey has is that it is surrounded by water which helps with any security issues.
Last year's tournament in Glasgow was hit by anti-war protestors who displayed their displeasure at Israel taking part after the Middle East country had recently invaded Lebanon.
Israel are set to feature in next year's Division Two championship.
'Glasgow was at a particularly bad time - with the war it was at the height of tension,' said Holdsworth.
The tournament is likely to take place next August. Before then, the ICC would have assessed Guernsey application for associate membership.
In March or April, the ICC will send inspectors to look at the island's cricket facilities and to meet politicians and high-ranking officials concerned with local sport. If they believe that Guernsey ticks all the boxes, their case will be presented at the ICC annual conference in either June or July for a final decision.
Holdsworth is bullish about Guernsey's chances of attaining associate membership and all the extra funding that comes with it.
'I would like to think so,' he said.
'It's looking strong.
