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Guernsey Cricket Board chief executive Mark Latter, speaking on the latest Guernsey Press Sport Podcast – which is out today – revealed that talks with his Jersey counterpart Craig Meredith have been very positive in looking to ‘join the women’s game up quite quickly’ so that both islands can make a case for being included in World Cup qualifying tournaments in future.

‘We are trying to get a domestic league started here as soon as possible, Jersey similarly,’ Latter said.

‘One of the criteria from the ICC to compete in World Cup qualifying is that you have eight teams playing competitively in your league.

‘Well, for Jersey and Guernsey to have eight teams each, even in the long term, is probably optimistic, but what we can achieve is four each, play a CI League which we want to get off the ground, potentially now next year, and if we can get those four sides playing each other in the same way as the men do, then we can go to the ICC and say “look, we have eight teams here, we’re playing well, we are playing these [national] teams who are in World Cup qualifying and beating them, give us our chance on the world stage”.

‘It’s across islands and working with Craig, my opposite number in Jersey, is going really well.

‘We both want to see Channel Islands cricket improve ... Guernsey sport generally being successful is good for cricket and if Channel Islands sport is successful it’s good for both of us.’

The Guernsey women’s squad will have a fixture programme this summer against men’s and youth sides to give continuity to their progress.

Island player and women’s representative on the GCB Philippa Stahelin joined Latter on the podcast, which was recorded on the KGV’s new Legends Terrace that will be officially opened this weekend when a series of T10 exhibition matches are played, and is looking forward to the challenges ahead both this season and in coming years.

‘[This summer’s fixture programme] just keeps the momentum going and gives women a regular output for cricket. Plus we’ve got about 10-12 women who are playing in the men’s teams on a regular basis, the ones who are really keen to do that, and the men’s sides have been fantastic – from being one or two [players] two or three years ago, it’s now “I’ll have a go at that” and they’ve really embraced it and that’s fantastic,’ she said.

‘We feel we can definitely compete at a level [internationally] and build our way through. It’s really exciting that you can have young players who can think “actually I’m playing against France or Denmark or whoever” and that’s amazing.

‘If we can get out and about, the world starts opening up and it should be really exciting.’

Whether there will be inter-insular matches at senior level this season is still up in the air reported Latter.

‘We have talked to Jersey about inter-insulars at the junior level – U11, U13 and U15 – with the potential for us to go over there and play them all at FB [Fields] on 3 July.

‘Obviously, whether that happens or not will be up to other people to open up the travel corridors etc.

‘Equally we are looking at trying to find a gap for some international cricket between Guernsey and Jersey at the men’s and women’s level.

‘Again, that will depend on travel and also [Jersey] are trying to put their calendar together. They are hosting a Cricket World Cup [qualifying] 50-over competition in September which affects their grounds and having to create Covid bubbles and all that, so it depends on whether that all happens.

‘It is does, it will squeeze the calendar, if it doesn’t there’ll be a lot of space, so it is kind of all options open, don’t rule anything out and then see where it all lays down when other people make the big decisions.’

• More on the latest Guernsey Press Sport Podcast out today