Johnson called up to Guernsey T20 squad
IT IS turning into quite a week for the Johnson family.
Just two days after youngest brother Harry claimed seven wickets for the Guernsey under-15s in their victory over their Jersey counterparts at FB Fields, his oldest brother Ben was yesterday named in the Island men’s squad for their much-anticipated inter-insular return this weekend in the Kiya.ai T20I Inter-Insular Cup tri-series.
The 18-year-old left-arm seamer is the eye-catching inclusion in the 14-strong group and Guernsey Cricket development manager Ben Ferbrache, who is Johnson’s coach at Elizabeth College and now also an Island teammate, believes his selection was fully merited.
‘He has been one of the stand-out bowlers in senior cricket in the last couple of years,’ Ferbrache said.
‘He has bowled really well for the OEA on the weekends and done well for Optimists, too, in the Evening League.’
Ferbrache added that the young prospect has added a yard of pace this season and the coach knows all about it having been hit on the shoulder by Johnson in Monday night’s Evening League opener at the KGV.
He revealed that Johnson has been working hard over the winter under the guidance of GCB coach Lee Forshaw with the help of a programme devised by fast-bowling coach Stef Jones.
‘He has certainly got a bit of pace about him. He is definitely a threat with the new ball,’ said Ferbrache.
Tony Curr has been speaking to Luke Bichard who is in line to make his first appearance against Jersey this weekend:
The option of having a left-arm pace bowler is a welcome addition to Guernsey’s armoury as they prepare to welcome Jersey back to these shores on Friday, when the opening match of the three-match T20I series will take place at the College Field starting at 4pm.
On Saturday, the series moves to the KGV for a double-header, with match two starting at 10.45am and the concluding third rubber scheduled to begin at 3.15pm.
Jersey, who are ranked 22nd in the ICC rankings compared to Guernsey at 38th, will be defending the T20I Inter-Insular Cup and have named a strong squad in what will be a hectic summer of international cricket for the Caesareans.
‘It is very exciting to be once again looking forward to inter-insular cricket action and it will be very interesting to see how the two teams match up after such a long break in the rivalry,’ said GCB chief executive Mark Latter.
‘We hope to see as many fans as possible at both venues to cheer the boys along.’
LIVE STREAM
SQUADS
Guernsey: Josh Butler (captain), Matt Stokes, Zak Damarell, Ben Ferbrache, Luke Le Tissier, Anthony Stokes, Tom Nightingale, Will Peatfield, Luke Bichard, Dec Martel, Ollie Newey, Ben Johnson, David Hooper, Ollie Nightingale.
Jersey: Chuggy Perchard (captain), Dan Birrell, Dom Blampied, Charlie Brennan, Harrison Carlyon, Jake Dunford, Nick Greenwood, Jonty Jenner, Elliot Miles, Rhys Palmer, Julius Sumerauer, Asa Tribe.
