First Guernsey call-up for Bradley as 50-over inter-insular returns
Martin-Dale Bradley is the new face in the Guernsey men’s squad for next week’s inter-insular.
The Irregulars captain from South Africa has recently completed his ICC residency qualification and has received his first call-up for the trip to Jersey on Saturday 3 September when 50-over contests between the islands will resume for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic.
‘It’s all three disciplines,’ said Guernsey captain Josh Butler when asked what Bradley will bring to the squad.
‘He has got a good pair of hands in the field, he bats and bowls, so he gives us flexibility.
‘We are not sure what the make-up of the XI will be yet, but he offers something a little bit different and is a hard-hitter of the ball.’
There are also three others in the 12-strong group who have yet to win a 50-over inter-insular cap, namely Ollie Nightingale, Adam Martel and Luke Bichard, but all have played for Guernsey in international competition and in the T20 Inter-Insular Series.
However, top all-rounder Matt Stokes is unavailable due to other off-island commitments.
‘It’s unfortunate, but we were lucky to have him for Finland when initially we did not think that would be the case,’ said Butler, who knows the difficulty of the task in hand against a Jersey side flying high after their stunning promotion from ICC Challenge League B.
‘For me it is about competing and seeing if we can put them under pressure.
‘You look at the quality of the sides they have been playing and they have won 11 out of their last 12. That’s credit to them and how far they’ve pushed themselves.’
Guernsey squad
Luke Le Tissier, Zak Damarell, Josh Butler (captain), Ollie Nightingale, Tom Nightingale, Ben Ferbrache, Ant Stokes, Will Peatfield, Adam Martel, David Hooper, Luke Bichard, Martin-Dale Bradley.
