Pro trio required for county service

Both professionals had been named in the provisional squad list for the tournament being held in Guernsey starting on Saturday, but by yesterday’s deadline for changes without the need to go through the ICC technical committee, they had been removed.

Rayner has just signed for Kent, on loan from Middlesex, for the rest of the County Championship season.

Left-arm paceman Klein has featured in Leicestershire’s last two first-class matches including taking three wickets against Lancashire last week and top scoring for his side with 87 in the first innings of that drawn match in Blackpool.

The third professional named in Germany’s provisional squad, Glamorgan all-rounder Craig Meschede, had been retained on the list as of yesterday.

Guernsey will get an idea of Germany’s strength this afternoon when the two squads are due to meet in a warm-up game at the KGV, 4pm start.

‘For us as a team, it helps because they are obviously very strong players,' said Guernsey coach Ash Wright.

'I think Germany would have been favourites for the tournament with them here. Although they will still be a very decent team, they will now have lads who weren’t in that initial squad stepping up.

‘For the tournament itself, it is a little disappointing because people want to see the best players out there in action.’

Hampshire player Gareth Berg, who had been surprisingly named in the initial Italy squad last month, will also be staying with his county rather than featuring in Guernsey.

The Italians are another rival outfit who, weather permitting, Wright will be able to get a sneak peak of today along with Norway.

Those two nations are due to play a warm-up match at the KGV starting at noon today ahead of the Sarnians’ run-out against Germany.

• More in Thursday's Guernsey Press.