New faces have the chance to impress
ISLAND SQUAD hopefuls will get their chance to press their claims against some of the Guernsey regulars this weekend as the MCC embark on a second ‘domestic tour’.
On Saturday a GCB XI managed by Lee Savident will take on the annual ‘visitors’, who will be represented purely by their locally-based members for the second successive year due to the pandemic.
Among their number, the MCC can count 10 Guernsey-capped players past and present including reigning Guernsey player-of-the-year Zak Damarell and his predecessor Will Peatfield, along with other current Guernsey players Ollie Newey and Tom Nightingale.
However, Savident’s side, who will be captained by Matt Stokes, fresh from his unbeaten double-century last weekend, and include three Irregulars in their ranks alongside a couple of other Island regulars, are arguably favourites on paper and the manager sees it as a good chance for fringe players to make an impact.
‘It gives them the opportunity to get on our radar,’ Guernsey assistant coach Savident said.
‘It is just nice to have a representative fixture and it gives us the opportunity to have a look at some new faces.
‘Now that we have the “pathway” group, these are guys who have been training with us, they are keen to be involved at a higher level and they have started the season well so warrant the call-up.
‘Now it is up to them to make it count.’
In the MCC’s first game of the tour tomorrow, in the absence of regular captain Morgan Clayton, who is unavailable, the Elizabeth College First XI will be led by Charlie Clapham, whose father Mark, the former Guernsey skipper, is among the opposition.
‘It’s good that Charlie gets this chance with the scope that he is likely going to be the First XI captain next year,’ said EC coach Ben Ferbrache.
‘This game is an opportunity for the players to put up their hand and get themselves selection into the OEA Weekend Championship side.
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‘We want to win the game, but it is also an opportunity for the boys to play as the First XI without myself and Matt Stokes [who play in the OEA league side] because we are treating the Weekend Bowl as a bit of a split between some first-team players and some younger guys.’
Due to exam commitments, Elizabeth College’s match against the MCC will start at 3pm tomorrow at the College Field and be played as 30 overs per side.
Saturday’s game between the GCB XI and the MCC will be 40 overs per side starting at 11am, also at the College Field.
TEAMS
Elizabeth College: Charlie Birch, Fintan Ridgwick (wk), Charlie Clapham (capt.), Marcus Thomas, Jake Swaisland, Peter Birch, Ollie Clapham, Harry Duke, Louis Steyn, Ben Johnson, Max Johnson, Dan Brown.
GCB XI: Matt Stokes (capt.), Alex Bushell, Martin-Dale Bradley, Tom Nightingale, CJ Peatfield, Waleed Jami, Lucas Barker, Jamie Nussbaumer, Adam Wakeford, Luke Bichard, Ben Wentzel.
MCC: Andy Biggins, Tim Duke, James Wilkes-Green, Mark Clapham, Mark Jefferies (capt.), Zak Damarell (wk), Will Peatfield, Johnny Bailey, Ollie Newey, Richard Veillard, Tom Veillard.
