Frith returns as European Cricket Network deal nears

While talks with an Indian company to show live coverage of island evening cricket have floundered, discussions with the European Cricket Network have progressed promisingly.

‘The conversation to expand on this weekend’s coverage is in progress,’ said Guernsey Cricket Board chief executive Mark Latter.

As for the Indian link, he said: ‘It all became a bit convoluted’.

As for the cricket itself, Jeremy Frith is a surprise inclusion in the team lists for today’s main game.

Frith, arguably the island’s finest all-round player of modern times, is named as part of the Olly Tapp XI for this afternoon’s second game against Andy Cornford’s select side.

Frith retired from representative cricket several years ago as he sought other challenges and had not appeared on the local scene for some time.

But with our borders closed he is unable to play for his Hampshire club Sparsholt and rather than not play at all he has signed to play in the fast upcoming shortened Evening League season.

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ said Frith, who will be playing for Wanderers/Rovers when the season starts the week after next.

‘I’ve been playing in England for the last three years but obviously can’t get there.’

Earlier, Irregulars warm up for their forthcoming Evening League Premiership campaign with a T20 clash against a league select XI.

Cornford is already 1-0 up on Tapp in the two-match challenge, Jamie Nussbaumer, playing as a batsman, producing the star turn three weeks ago as Cornford’s XI eased to a seven-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare.

That afternoon Nussbaumer took the chance to ease himself back into the fray and he finished unbeaten on 35.

The former Island captain is eager for competitive action after missing last season due to knee issues and he again finds himself playing under the captaincy of Cobo team-mate Josh Butler.

Lucas Barker, who played on the other side back in May, leads the Tapp side which has Frith as part of it, as well as a welcome return for Old Elizabethan Nairn Guilbert.

TEAMS

11am game: Irregulars XI – Matt Southwell (capt.), Gashirai Masvoikeni, Werner van Zyl, Ben Wentzel, Alex Davies, Martin-Dale Bradley, Alex Bailey, Gordon Irish, Alban Ford, Leeor Fritsch, James Underwood. League Select XI – GH Smit, Rob Palmer, Matt Merrien, Myles Brook Alex Robin, Chris van Vliet, James Hudson, Paul Gabb, James Ridout, Alex Bushell, Dom O’Brien.

2pm game: Cornford XI – Tom Nightingale, Zak Damarell, Josh Butler (capt.), Jamie Nussbaumer, Ollie Newey, Toby Belton, Dec Martel, Ant Stokes, Charlie Clapham, Charles Vorster, Tom Veillard. Tapp XI – Lucas Barker (capt.), Nic Hutchinson, Jeremy Frith, Ben Ferbrache, Luke Le Tissier, Nairn Guilbert, Nathan Le Tissier, Luke Bichard, Waleed Jami, Gashirai Masvikeni, Nic Buckle, Ben Johnson.