Old 'Burky' set for one last hurrah

ANDY BURKHARDT and several of his Mavericks teammates want to strike a blow for the older generation today. Guernsey's representatives in the NatWest CI Club Championship final travel to Grainville to face Old Victorians and the former Guernsey pace bowler believes that, buoyed by the semi-final win over Cobo, his side can rise to the occasion.

'We are a fairly new club and because we have never won it before, hopefully plenty of guys will be eager to make this opportunity count.'

Mavericks will look to keep to their usual game plan, if at all possible, of bowling first and trying to restrict their opposition to a reasonably low total. It has generally proved to be a successful formula.

Burkhardt, though, acknowledge that they need their big guns to fire with the willow.

'We like playing at Grainville. The last time we played there we beat the Jersey champions in Romerils,' he said.

'It is usually a steady track, which will suit us for batting.

In the bowling department, Burkhardt feels Mavs might have the edge over the opposition. Of course, he is an integral part of the attack.

In his pomp, Burkhardt was one of the island's fastest bowlers. Many regard him as having sent down some of the quickest spells they have seen locally.

Nowadays, his pace is more sedate, but he still poses a threat thanks to the swing he generates through the air.

'I try and think the batsman out, vary things a bit and make him work for his runs,' Burkhardt said.

'When you take the pace off the ball, a batsman has got to strike it and not just guide it. If you can get a bit of movement doing it, that's is how you get your man out.'

Word from Jersey is that OVs are missing some key personnel for the clash, among them Peter Gough, Ward Jenner and Chris Searson.

However, their captain Chris Jones, who also picked up an injury in the semi-final win over Optimists, insisted that 'we'll be competitive and, if we take our chances, we're still good enough to win'.

Mavericks are set to stick with the same XI who beat Cobo.

Burkhardt believes it has the potential to be a 'very good game' whoever plays.

'You can only play against who turns up on the day,' he said.

'But if they were judging us on that performance, they might be under-rating us.

'I am sure that they are not that stupid, though, and I think it is probably too close to call.'

* Tomorrow Cobo meet Wanderers in the GCA Cup final at KGV, 11am start.