ICC gives us green light to their riches

GUERNSEY cricket yesterday hit the jackpot with its admission into the 'associate' ranks of the International Cricket Council.

David Piesing (pictured), chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board, was at the Dubai conference to hear the expected news.

'It's gone through unanimously and we are the 34th associated member,' he said. 'Guernsey was the only country to be upgraded and asked how island cricket would benefit: Piesing summed it up in one word: 'massively'.

While declining to elaborate on exact funding amounts, it is understood to be a three-figure sum per annum. 'It's a several-fold increase on what we had been managing on. It will go to improving facilities, employment of groundstaff, coaches and the development of players.'