Independents’ 60-year wait for title tipped to end

But there is a good chance that 2021 will see the name of Independents join the dozen clubs – many of which folded long ago – whose names are engraved on the trophy donated by Bonny Martel all those years ago.

You could also say that it would be highly fitting if Indies were to win the top division of a form of cricket Guernsey introduced to the world back in 1927.

It is exactly 60 years ago that Independents joined the then Guernsey Cricket League and in that time they have only ever been brief additions at the top, much of their sporting life having been played out in the lower divisions.

Time for a change then?

Many are tipping them to end Cobo’s run this summer and if they were to it would be a remarkable achievement for the league’s youngest captain, Nathan Le Tissier.

First year out of ‘school’, the spinning all-rounder sampled captaincy at this level in 2020 when Independents blew hot and cold to finish third behind Griffins and the team that has dominated this form of cricket since 2000 and has now recorded 11 title triumphs in 15 seasons.

The 2020 success finally took Cobo above Rovers in terms of overall championships.

Years and years of slowly reeling in the late 20th century kings of evening cricket saw Cobo match Rovers’ 20 title wins (including ties) in 2019 and then go one better.

That was their third title on the bounce, having ended Griffins’ two-year reign at the top of the tree.

Skipper Josh Butler is confident but realistic at the same time.

Like everyone, he looks at the Independents line-up and nods approval.

The signing of Matt Stokes is huge and, if regularly available, perhaps pivotal.

Butler said despite Stokes’ signing his side ‘still had a great shot’ at regaining the title, but what excites him most is the presence of a couple of talented youngsters who he hopes will become regulars in the Cobo side – wicket-keeper Fintan Ridgwick and all-rounder Charlie Birch.

‘They are now of the age – 16 turning 17 – to get them playing Division One. It is time to get them in,’ said the young Cobo captain of the Elizabeth College First XI players.

Butler acknowledged the strength of Independents and ‘signing Stokes will boost their chances’, having challenged strongly in 2020.

Griffins’ club manager and driving force Rob Thomson expects this summer to be ‘a significant challenge' for his men, and is struggling to see beyond an Independents triumph.

‘We’ll attack it with the usual youthful exuberance that has been synonymous with Griffins over recent years.

‘Getting an XI on the pitch will be the first hurdle to overcome – the football season looks set to rule a couple of key players out for the first half of EL1 and all of the weekend championship, and I don’t expect to see our university lads [Nic Buckle, Dan Le Messurier and Nic Hutchinson] until July given Covid restrictions.

‘Given 75% of the EL1 season is over by the then – and all of the 50-over competition – it makes life immensely difficult for us.

‘We’ll be reliant on our captain to haul us through games, as he has done so many times in the past, and we hope to see further meaningful progress from our younger players – particularly Luke Bichard and Marcus Thomas.

‘A fit and firing Luke Le Tissier is up there with the best on the island, so he’ll be hugely important to us too.'

Thomson thinks Cobo’s 'vast resources' probably makes them favourites for all competitions, but backs Indies to snatch EL1.

‘Given the signings they’ve made since stepping up last summer, they will have been disappointed to have underachieved in 2020 and I don’t think they’ll make the same mistakes again.’

• More in Tuesday's Guernsey Press.