Turning a new leaf

THERE was a new chapter in Guernsey cricket written on Thursday. The island side went down to a 72-run defeat at the hands of Kenya at the County Ground, Hove.

But that does not tell the whole story. Guernsey have just been awarded associate membership of the International Cricket Council and are in international cricket infancy, whereas Kenya are ranked 12th in the world, have reached the semi-finals of a World Cup, are in the top division of the World Cricket League and are arguably the best team outside the Test playing nations.

Getting onto the same pitch as them was an achievement in itself and a sign for things to come. 'It's another step in the process,' said the chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board, Dave Piesing.

'But the reality is we are probably a minimum of four or five years from playing sides of that calibre in competitive cricket. With the best will in the world, we're not going to progress to division one or two in the World League for a minimum of four years.

'But this gives us the encouragement and belief that it's a gamble well worth taking and that we'll have nothing to fear if or when we get there because we know it's within reach.'