Global audience set for another showcase

A DOUBLE-HEADER of T20 matches is on the cards for Saturday as the Guernsey Cricket Board aims to increase the profile of the sport here further.

Matt Renouf bowling in the GCB Covid-19 Appeal T20 Match at the KGV last month. His stunning catch in that game – the first played in the British Isles this summer – ended up going viral on social media and was commented on by the likes of England star Stuart Broad. (Picture by Martin Gray, www.guernseysportphotography.com, 28319873)

And the good news for all local cricketers is that, barring any hindrances, the domestic Evening League season will start by the end of the month.

At the end of May the KGV hosted the first match in the British Isles since the coronavirus lockdown and more than 50,000 tuned into the live stream – and now more than 100,000 have seen the footage of the exhibition played between two sides selected from the island squad.

A rematch of that game between Andy Cornford’s XI and Olly Tapp’s XI – albeit with a couple of personnel changes due to other commitments – is due to take place at 2pm on Saturday.

The first game of the double-header, starting at 11am, will be a League Select T20 Challenge featuring players from Evening League clubs across all divisions.

‘After all the fanfares and YouTube hits for our first outing on 30 May, we are looking to showcase Guernsey Cricket again this coming Saturday,’ said GCB chief executive Mark Latter, who has his fingers crossed that the forecast showers do not play a big part in proceedings at the KGV.

Again players will wear club colours and arrive ready for action with social distancing protocols observed.

A new addition will be the ‘hand sanitiser break’ with cleaning liquid coming onto the field at the end of the sixth and 14th overs.

As with the first venture, matches will be broadcast live on the Guernsey Cricket Facebook page with full scorecard graphics and commentary. The production will once again be provided by Warren Mauger from Spike Productions.

‘This game will serve as a final tester before the domestic season gets fully under way at the end of June, all things remaining as they are,’ Latter said.

‘The initial draft of fixtures sees all three Odey Wealth Evening League Divisions played for alongside a Weekend Programme that sees the return of the GCA Cup (50 overs) and GCA Bowl.

‘Once feedback has been received from the clubs, the draft will be ratified by the end of next week.’