Guernsey's big chance
ON THE day that it was announced Guernsey's under-15s and 17s have been promoted to the European Division One, the seniors have been given the best chance possible to follow suit and will host the Division Two championship next year.
ON THE day that it was announced Guernsey's under-15s and 17s have been promoted to the European Division One, the seniors have been given the best chance possible to follow suit and will host the Division Two championship next year. 'It is a fantastic opportunity for Guernsey's young cricketers to test themselves against the strongest nations in Europe at their own age group,' said the chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board, Dave Piesing, to yesterday's news from the ICC Europe.
'We are delighted that ICC Europe has recognised the playing strength of our youth sides in this way and we eagerly look forward to the challenges ahead. It will provide an additional impetus for our youngsters as they enter this winter's coaching programme.'
Jersey are also to take part in the 2008 ICC European U17 and U15 Division One Championships, which will both now increase to six-team tournaments for the first time since the championships began in 1999.
Up until now only Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and Holland have been allowed to compete for these age group titles, but following the recent success of the Channel Islands' sides it has been decided that they will also be included.
This year saw Jersey win both the U19 and U23 Division Two Championships while Guernsey won the U15.
Neither island lost a single match other than to one another in any of the age-group competitions and many of the victories over the other countries were so large that the gap in standards between the sides was very apparent.
'Our U15s showed this year that they were a very strong side by winning the Division Two tournament in La Manga,' said Piesing.
'Five or six of those same players are still in the U15s in 2008, while the remainder of that squad will now move to the U17s age group.'
The U17 Division One Championship will be held in Belfast in July 2008 while U15 championship takes place in Jersey in July. Guernsey will host the seniors' Division Two championship in August.
That appointment comes on the back of a successful U23 tournament that was hosted by the island this summer.
Along with Guernsey, France, Germany, Gibraltar and Jersey the sixth place will be filled by either Israel or Division Three champions Croatia, who will playoff next month.
The champions of Division Two will then have a play-off with the bottom-placed team of the 2008 Division One Championship, which will be held in Ireland. This will probably be either Italy or Norway.
The rest of Division One is made of Holland, Ireland and Scotland, who all featured in this year's World Cup, and Denmark. Island captain Stuart Le Prevost is bullish about his team's chances. 'It's on our home pitch so it gives us that edge,' said Le Prevost.
'It would be nice to perform to our potential this time which we didn't do last time. Germany are pretty strong and we're on a bit of a par with Jersey at the moment.
'I think the winner will be one of us three, but having the home advantage hopefully will give us the edge.'
