Hearse eyes the 'serious' league

DAVE HEARSE is looking for European Division Two Championships glory next year. A day after ICC Europe announced that Guernsey will host the bi-annual tournament in August next year, the island manager said the move greatly increased the chances of winning promotion.

'With the current crop of players it's a huge advantage playing at home,' he said.

'Plus we'll have our home crowds and also we don't have to stay in hotels so players can sleep in their beds which is better for them. If we play to the best of our ability and don't win it then we'll have to increase the talent pool.

'But if we play to our best and win it, then we can look forward to playing the likes of Scotland and Ireland and that's when it starts to get a little bit serious. It's going to be a round-robin tournament so the best team should win.'

Guernsey will face Jersey, Gibraltar, France, Germany and either Israel or Croatia for the chance of promotion to Division One where they would join the big boys of European cricket - Holland, Denmark, Ireland and Scotland.

The matches will take place at the KGV, the College Field and at the island's newest grass wicket at Port Soif.

Meanwhile, Hearse says he will reconvene his squad in the new year.

A hard few months of fitness and technical work will follow with the help of Sussex coaches through the island's development agreement with the county champions.

'It's my job with the Sussex coaches to make sure that the players are the best that they can be next August,' said Hearse.

'Five games in seven days is a big ask for all the squads. We will have to be as fit as we can be because recovery is key.'

Guernsey will offer some warm up games ahead of the Jersey-hosted World Cricket League Division Five in May 2008. Afghan-istan, Norway, Nepal, USA, the Bahamas and Singapore are some of teams involved and they could face Guernsey before hand.

Friendlies could also be arranged with the Sussex Academy or with a Sussex Select XI.

'We're going to skew our schedule so that we get exposure to all three wickets before the competition,' said Hearse.

'Maybe we will play some island games against overseas opposition at Port Soif and at the College Field.'

The ICC regional development manager for Europe, Richard Holdsworth, believes hosting the tournament is a real boon for Guernsey.

After gaining ICC status a couple of ago, Holdsworth now sees Guernsey and Jersey as established players on the European scene.

'It great news for Guernsey,' he said.

'With both Jersey and Guernsey we didn't quite know what to expect.

'They've now had quite a few other games outside the European matches and both stand a very good of getting to the top.

'It could quite well be an all Channel Islands affair at the top to see who will get through.'