The cut is made

JUST two days after the announcement of a preliminary squad for next month's European T20 Championships in Sussex, five players have been cut.

Nic Pothas, the new director of cricket, certainly has not wasted time in making his final judgement. The unlucky handful include the Rovers all-rounder Stuart Bisson, a familiar face in recent island touring squads, his Port Soif club colleague Adam Martel, Cobo all-rounder Ollie Newey, his out-of-form club team-mate Ben Ferbrache and the young St Pierre wicket-keeper Jason Martin.

The latter's loss is Zak Damarell's gain, the island hockey player being given the opportunity to become a double senior 'cap', as was his father Ian.

Pothas said his choices had been tough to make and he sympathised with those who have felt the axe, most notably all-rounders Bisson and Newey. 'From an effort point of view they have been brilliant. It's always hard to tell these guys they are out of the squad.' But, as he explained, 'you can only have so many all-rounders in the team'.