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12 February:

All arrived safely, well some of the party less 'safely' than others but they no doubt got a good sleep! After negotiating Dubai Customs successfully we were met by Roger Myall from Cricket Arabia (and also MKK Sports the GCB kit supplier) and taken to our home for the next few days at the Chelsea Tower Apartments.

Nice building and rooms with a pool and gym facility to ensure the chaps keep in tip top shape. The CEO will be looking for a decent steak and claret to do the same!

Rooming lists were provided which created little in the way of dissent albeit at 2.00am in the morning any bed would do!

The CEO has been afforded a blend of youth and experience in his billet with Messrs Bisson and Biggins offering lively discussion on such subjects as naval hair and classical music respectively, whilst Ms Ferbrache and Renouf discuss beach weights and abs!

Took a somewhat hairy ride across to the Dubai Sevens complex to get some air into our lungs and stretch a few limbs in the grass nets there. Arsenal use the facility as a base for the next generation of silky passers, who were not to be seen when the Squad started their footie warm up. The juniors defeated the seniors with a slick goal from Hoops that was met with the usual good grace from the skipper in a losing moment!

The nets reminded the guys that this is way early in any pre-season as wickets fell and expansive shots did not find the middle. The bowlers looked on the ball and everyone is focused on being in the right place for Bahrain in Singapore when ICC WCL5 gets going on 18th February. At the moment is is very much any 11 from 14 and the next few days will give Andy Cornford the information he needs to pick his starting XI.

13 February:

Awoke to sun pouring through my 22nd floor window which meant a tough day watching the guys get put through their paces in the nets at the 7evens's Cricket Facility! After another dodgem ride down spent mostly in 2nd gear the coaching team, including Sussex CCC  legend Keith 'Grubby' Greenfield split the guys into groups as they paired up in the nets. Jamie Nussbaumer set the tone for a serious session breaking Tim Ravenscroft's helmet with a short pitched delivery that the 'little' maestro' ducked into after losing the ball in the bright lights.  After that Hoops took over as he took apart Mr Cricket, Jeremy Frith in an impressive net spell. Equally impressive was the colour Hoops was going in the sun, here is a man not built for Dubai weather! Again everyone worked well and there are still 14 players looking for 11 places next Saturday.

After the net session it was a quick shower and then off to Abu Dhabi and the Sheik Zhayed Stadium to watch the first ODI between England and Pakistan. There was an interesting sideshow to this as our driver clearly thought we were actually playing Pakistan.........................who knows might be one day!! Lunch was grabbed on the run and after a couple of wrong turns we were in the ground and taking our seats as Cook and Pietersen were going along nicely. Our arrival coincided with Pietersen and Trott going in successive balls to Afridi, a man who seemed very popular with the locals! Cook and Bopara (men of Essex) then took England along comfortably as they sought to post an above par target around 280+. The presence of another great international team was soon sending the media into a frenzy and in moments we had requests from Test Match Special and Sky to appear on radio and camera! So Stu went off to remind Aggers that he once got whacked out of the ground in Guernsey by 'Manaage', Pete Vidamour and the rest of us breathed in when we saw the camera on us. Several texts were received from Guernsey viewers who clearly weren't working hard enough to say the squad had been spotted..........special mention to TJ for the kind words!

England posted 260 in the end after losing wickets at the wrong time as they went into the final overs and we awaited the fireworks from the Pakistan response. Steve Finn had other ideas and blasted out the top order and silenced the locals until Boom Boom came to wicket at which point the place went mad! A few lusty blows later and the noise levels increased especially when Bopara dopped him on the boundary. But a few balls later he went and with that several hundred locals turned their backs and went home..........a quite remarkable sight !

England duly wrapped up a 130 run victory and we headed back to the coach and the 90 min drive back to Dubai hoping to miss the traffic..............literally!

14 February:

Our first warm up game today and a 45min drive to Sharjah Stadium which has seen a 'world record' 202 ODI's over the years so a great honour for the boys to play there.

Our oppostion today are a London Invitational XI made up of Asian players from around the Middlesex and Surrey area.

Guernsey batted first and posted a very respectable 332/9 in their 50 overs as follows;

(one day KGV will look like this)

Jamie Nussbaumer and Matt Renouf opened up the bowling and soon found their rhythm against a solid looking opening batting pair. Will Peatfield came on first change for his first bowl in the Senior Guernsey Green and looked good as he made the break through in a spell of 5-0-11-1. Bowling was always going to be hard on a road of a wicket that glistened white under the Sharjah floodlights.

Stuart Bisson replaced Renouf and induced panic with his raw pace as a sharp piee of fielding claimed a run out  to account for the second wicket. Stu then found the edge of the bat for Tom Kimber to take the catch behind the stumps to remove the third wicket (99 for 3 in 24 overs). Stu claimed the fourth wicket soon after with Ben Ferbrache taking a catch at extra cover. Ferbie also accounted for the fifth wicket with a run out again showing that Guernsey were on the ball in the field.

Enter the 'timeless' Gary Rich to weedle out the sixth wicket as Tom stumped their victim. There then followed a masterclass of off spin/slow right arm/dobbers/filth (* delete as appropriate) from GH Smit as he took a 'four-for' with the assistance of Andy Biggins in the deep, Ross Kneller close in and two plumb LBW's showing the value of bowling straight (if nothing else!).

London Invitational XI all out in the end for 129 in the 33rd over.

All in all a great workout for the boys in such hallowed surroundings and for the Coach, Andy Cornford still no clues to selection as everyone in the 14 has his hand up still.

(the lights go out but the boys are still shining)

15 February:

Final day in Dubai and final warm up game later. Firstly though some thoughts on the past few days from ex-skip Andy Biggins;

"It has been a tour of firsts for this ageing cricketer but I am delighted to be back in the fold. The highlight came yesterday on a baked mud track - a bowlers' graveyard - at Sharjah, home to Test cricket and the most used venue in the history of one day internationals - and to play under floodlights was a first for most of the team. It was a wonderful opportunity, a fantastic experience and just one of the many reasons why Guernsey's youngsters have so much to aspire to.

I have no clue who Qasim Noorani was, but he needs a new seat in his stand in the North West corner of the ground (cow corner). One look at my physique and you will deduce that I don't hit many sixes but I can at least say I have hit a maximum at every Test ground I've played at! Knellor and Le Prevost hit a six as well - but they were no where near as big as mine!

It is a pleasure to be part of this Guernsey squad and preparations could not be going better from the team's point of view. We are pretty much injury-free (star bat Tim Ravenscroft is struggling with a badly bruised finger), all the batsmen are in form, we have plenty of bowling options, but most importantly we are enjoying each others company and team spirit is strong. Every day the stakes get higher and I believe this team is ready for any challenge.

On a personal note it has been an honour and a privilege to room with Stuart Bisson, a man of experience, wisdom and the body of a Bulgarian weightlifter."

After packing our bags and checking out of the hotel we made the journey into Sharjah State to the Al Dhaid Cricket Village Grounds which we were advised were situated in the desert! They were! Being somewhere north of civilisation next to a camel farm! Facilities consisted of a pitch, near concrete wicket (see picture later) and a shower room with two showers but only one working with cold water only! Time to man the boys up then and dispel any thoughts that Guernsey Cricket trips now were only 5* luxury.

Umpires and scorers were in short supply...........none..........so myself playing the 'Sue V role' and Pete Vidamour the 'Sean Whelan role' stepped into the breech and got things going. It is fair to say that the scoring (in the back of my diary using 29 and 30 December) was notable for it's 100% accuracy whilst Desert's umpiring was marked by the highly optimistic appeals for LBW from the opponents.........given  Desert considers a) LBW 'cheating' as a way to dismiss a batsman and b) he would be walking home if he gave one!

(Jamie looks for some grass)

Today's opponents are the ECB Blues 2nd XI which is the UAE U23's so decent opposition given the position in WCL of their seniors. Guernsey won the toss and chose to bat on a 'belter'.

After a loose opening spell from the seamers which saw GH and Ross plunder some 80 odd runs they both fell in quick succession Ross for a run a ball 29 and GH 59 off 50 balls. ECB Blues then introduced spin and matters ground to halt on the scoring front whilst wicket fell steadily. When the skipper takes 44 balls to score 13 you know there is trouble out there! Enter then Andy Biggins and David Hooper to form a partnership that allowed Guernsey to post a score. Biggins showed his value again to this squad as he played his own game to finish not out on 30 from 62 balls whilst Hoops improvised his way to 47 off 50 balls. Tom and Jamie lifted a couple over and across the ropes and Guernsey reached a hard fought 223 for 9 in their 50 overs.

By now the lights were on but only 'bathed' some 80% of the outfield in light which was going to make fielding interesting to say the least! After a slow start as Jamie hurried the openers up and Stu Bisson did not, Stu grabbed the first wicket. There followed a steady fall of wickets as Matt Renouf got his first in the Senior Guernsey Green and Hoops and 'timeless' Gary Rich nabbed one and two respectively. The fielding from Guernsey was again solid and Hoops nearly pulled off the wonder catch of them all with one he chased down over his shoulder and just failed to grab as he dived backwards. It was left to Mr Cricket to polish matters off with eventual figures of 9.1-0-23-4 whilst Ross burgled his own wicket at the close.

Another good run out and certainly another experience for this team.

So we then departed for Dubai airport and a 0245 flight down to Singapore arriving in Singapore at 1345 their time so a long trek ahead. There was still though the 'russian roulette' that is check in where you find out if you have drawn the short straw and a seat next to Hammy!

After check-in it was out to grab a bite to eat and then early to bed to catch up on sleep lost in the travel over.

17 February:

Back in the Park Royal Hotel on Kitchener Road after our last visit in 2009 and all looks as we left it including Mustafa's Emporium which affords you the opportunity of buying everything from a bath plug to an IPad2 and all sorts in between.

Today is the first official practice day and the team are off early to net at Kalang for a couple of hours before pool sessions later and then meetings to ensure everything is on track for the first game against Bahrain on Saturday.

We also await the arrival of our Media Manager Mr Scoones and his insight into the matters of the day.

Saturday 18 February, 1.20pm (SGP), Park Royal Hotel, Kitchener Road, Singapore

I'm finally up and running!! After two days of traveling and no wi-fi, and I'm now sat in the foyer to the team's hotel making full use of the free wi-fi... I'm in a happy place! Today has already been very eventful but before I get on to that, I'm going to take you back in time and fill you in with what I've been doing the last couple of days...

16.49, Thursday 16 February, Wetherspoons Pub, North Terminal, Gatwick Airport

I feel like we’re stepping into the unknown.

Ok this is the Guernsey team’s fourth World Cricket League so we’re used to used to week-long tournaments.

Ok we’ve already played one WCL in Singapore so the conditions, the wickets (we know that the Singapore CC track has more carry than the other two pitches), the heat and humidity, the food, the culture and the surroundings will throw up no surprises.

Ok we’ve played three out of five opponents before so we know what to expect on that front.

But I just can’t say how this week is going to go.

What do we know though about the opposition?

The three teams we’ve played against are Singapore, Malaysia and our old friends – Bahrain.

Singapore are a solid side with their captain (sorry I’m terrible with names!) a decent off-spinner who had held an Indian Premier League contract before leaving India for the city state their star player.

They got the better of us a couple of years ago on their home turf in WCL Div 6, although we should’ve made a better account of ourselves.

We lost our first encounter with Malaysia in that Singapore tourney but we subsequently edged them the next two times back in September in WCL Div 5 as we went on to win the competition.

Of course thanks to the heroics of Tom ‘Kimbo’ Kimber…

The Malaysians are also a well-rounded side with a couple of decent Pakistani-bred opening bowlers.

And then there’s Bahrain.

Annoyingly they’ve just got the better of us every time our paths have crossed.

Another sub-continent dominated side – they’ve got a long batting line up with a number of steady spinners.

Our first match of the league is with the Bahrainis on Saturday at the SCC.

However, I honestly can’t say how well we’re going to do against these three.

I expect Singapore still to be strong and to take the honours overall.

Malaysia are going to be out for revenge.

Bahrain – Who knows? They were an oldish side so age may have caught up with them.

If I can’t predict what is going to happen when we play these three then I’ve certainly not got a Scooby’s when it comes to the two other teams in the tourney – Argentina and the Cayman Islands, as I watch the sun set over Gatwick’s runway.

However, these two have slid down the leagues over the past couple of years so they could be rip for the picking.

But what about us?

We’re going into the tournament without one of our big (literally) players in Lee ‘Savs’ Savident.

The former Hampshire professional and personal friend of mine has been under the knife this week for a back operation.

His Rovers’ colleague Tim ‘Dukey’ Duke also misses out after he came a cropper on his bicycle outside the Fontaine Pub and he broke a finger and seriously sprained his wrist.

It’s got to be said that he was cycling on his way to work and not after a sess in one of the island’s leading establishments that has a bar billiards table.

The pair would have arguably taken the new ball together and possibly opening the batting together as well.

As a result, we are going in with a young seam bowling attack as Matt ‘Son of…’ Renouf and Will ‘Peatfield’ Peatfield come in.

It’s a big tournament for the pair but they will only benefit from the experience.

Former island captain Andy ‘Biggsy’ Biggins comes in for Dukey and it was a wise decision by the selectors to pick the stylish, veteran left-hander.

The rest of the squad are seasoned campaigners when it comes to WCLs –  captain Stu ‘Prev’ Le Prevost grows in stature every match, Jeremy ‘Frithy’ Frith loves it, Gary ‘Gritchy’ Rich keeps going and going and doing an epic job for Guernsey etc etc… so all 14 of them will certainly do the island proud.

They’ve had a good warm up in Dubai this week with a number of them putting in good performances so the management have got some thinking to do.

Any ways… as my first beers of the trip are kicking in and I’m now clearing rambling… I’ll end on this:

I don’t know how we’re going to do but one thing is for certain – we’ll have a pretty decent idea after the first hour of play against Bahrain Saturday morning.

Whatever happens – I can’t wait!

Right – I need a wee now.

Sunset Over Gatwick Airport Runway. Wordsworthian.

07.16 (Dubai Time), Friday 17 February, The Hub Bar, Dubai

Just landed in Dubai and halfway to paradise! And I thought I share with you my first travel tip of the trip.

If you’re ever in Dubai Airport (which always seems to be incredibly busy whatever time of the day) go to The Hub Bar. It’s on the first floor and just at one end of the shopping bit, towards the gates.

It’s one of my favourite bars in the world – they serve Leffe on tap. Leffe is one of my favourite beers in the world.

I’ve attached a picture of the bar. There’s not much going on because it’s just after 7am local time.

I’ve also attached another picture of me tucking into a Leffe… I’m on holiday!!

I then landed in Singapore last night and found my hotel in the middle of Little India... they'll be more about Hotel 81 on Dickson Road later. Got my stuff sorted and went out and met up with Guernsey Cricket Board CEO Mark ‘Lats’ Latter (who has done a sterling job looking after the blog in my absence) and KGV groundsman extraordinaire Alan ‘Hammy’ Hamiltion for a drinkie in the hawker centre next to their hotel, which we know well and has been crowned Victory Bar.

Hammy told a story about how he’d fulfilled a lifetime ambition earlier in the evening and had gone for a proper Asian massage. Coming towards the end of the massage, the lady asked him if there was anything else she could do for him. To which Hammy replied – Give my feet another rub please…

I went on and had a couple more and needless to say I had problems getting up this morning.

Which brings me nicely on to the cricket. By the time I got to Guernsey’s game with Bahrain at the Singapore Cricket Club at about 11am – it was all over!

The Greens got off to the perfect start after they skittled out the Bahrainis for 49 runs, who had decided to bat first. Jamie Nussbaumer took a wicket with the first ball of the match and they never looked back.

The Cobo pace man went on to take five for 19 in six overs in a hostile display of fast bowling which the batsman couldn’t handle.

Dave Hooper also got in the act with his medium as he took three wickets for one run in his only over. The one run he conceded was a wide.

In reply, the Sarnians had little problems wrapping the match up. The only blip was GH Smit going for 13 when the big South African opener was caught behind fishing.

It was good job that they finished it quickly. The rain came down about midday.

The SCCG, the boys having lunch, the SCC pavilion and Hammy - post massage. Four images, one word - picturesque.

09.41, Sunday 19 February, Indian Association Ground, Singapore. Singapore 12 for 1 off 3

Good morning everyone! It's a lovely day here in Singapore. There's some clouds about it but they're not threatening at the mo.

Any way after winning the toss, Singapore decided to bat and are one down when opener Kumarage went to pull a rank long-hop from Jamie Nussbaumer and only succeeded in gloving it to Dave Hopper at square leg. It was the 10th ball of Nussie's over, which was a mix bag to say the least...

Team news: There's one change from yesterday's winning side. Veteran off-spinner Gary Rich has come in for young pace bolwer Matt Renouf. The Indian Association Ground is more spin friendly than the Singapore Cricket Club.

10.29, SGP 66 for 1 off 16

The hosts are ticking along nicely now after losing a wicket in the first over. Guernsey are sticking with seam for some reason. Time for spin methinks...

10.36

I've had some emails all ready. Here's one I received earlier today when Jamie Nussbaumer was bowling from former island manager Dave 'Hearsey' Hearse titled 'Cricket Lovely Cricket'.

Wotcha matey. Up drinking with wifey and checked the score. Tell Nussy to find his radar. Good game to win and we can start thinking about greater things. Have a great trip and enjoy Brix.

Happy birthday.

Dave

Cheers Dave. Don't know what he means by Brix and he's brought me on to another issue to be dealt with... my birthday! 28 today.

If you want to email in - I'm on aaron_scoones@hotmail.com

11.00, SGP 102 for 2 off 24

Spin has got the breakthrough! Suryawanshi was caught by Frithy in the circle off Rich. The right handed opener, whose favourite shot was a James Falla-esc little dab to third man, went for 44. We need Frithy and Grichy to do a job here otherwise Singapore could go large.

Remember you can keep up with the score at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/scorecard.php?type=C&matchId=45199

11.15, SGP 115 for 2 off 29

Singapore are chugging along nicely. We need another wicket.

Any way, in the meantime. Here are some more pics from yesterday courtesy of my former Guernsey Press colleague and personal friend - Garteth El Pervoir (as he once called in the paper).

Me and Biggsy sharing a joke. I've still not been invited to his wedding though...

Stuart 'Body of a Bulgarian Weightlifter' Bisson enjoying the new Mickey Mouse ice-bath. Relax ladies: there'll be more ice-bath pics!

More man love as Nussie Jr and Ferbs celebrate victory the only way they know how.

Me receiving my official club t-shirt for the Guernsey Overseas Nomadic and Domestic Supporters (the G.O.N.A.D.S) from president Owen 'Sparrow' Gullie

11.52, WICKET!!, Mendis c Smit b Nussbaumer 77, SGP 164 for 3 off 39

A great catch by Smitty to get rid of Singapore's dangerman Mendis! It was high and spiralling but GH held his nerve. We needed that.

I've been informed by Luke Nussbaumer back in Guernsey that there could be some problems with the ICC score website. If you're having probs you can try Cricinfo - http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcldiv5-2012/engine/match/549649.html 

12.28, SGP 205 for 6 off 47

The boys have come back nicely here. Some good catching and tight bowling have done the job.

At one point Singapore look set for the high 200s. 220ish looks more likely and on a wicket that seems pretty decent.

12.45, SGP 223 all out off 50

That's the end of the Singaporeans - all out for 223 on the last ball. A great effort by Guernsey to come back like that and special mention must go to Tom Kimber behind the stumps. Kimbo picked up a couple of stumpings - one of which was a smart piece of work down the legside. That's the best I've seen him keep.

Game on.

13.05

Some action shots from earlier courtesy of Gareth Le Prevost.

Grichy really tossing it up...

Guernsey's Paul Collingwood - David Hooper

Tim Ravenscroft sending down the heat

It's a big job but he's a big man - Guernsey captain Stuart Le Prevost

13.44, GSY 13 for 1 off 4.5 overs

The Greens have lost Kneller. He was caught down at fine leg hooking Mahboob (no jokes) for 4. Mahboob was given a lot of support by his team mate Razzak who took a good catch on the boundary. Mahboob was bouncing around like a good 'un.

'Mr Cricket' jeremy Frith goes out to the middle. He's in his happy place.

13.48

I've received an email from Lee Savident. The former Hampshire professional unfortunately misses the tournament due to having a back operation last week. Any way, the big man has emailed in:

Morning pal and happy birthday. 

I must say you are looking extremely svelt in the well travelled banks t shirt! 

Progress report is that the surgeon mike Hutton has chopped me up superbly and back home already. I even woke up from my op with a small jar next to me containing what can only be described as crab meat! Now I know what a L5/S1 disc looks like! I'll send a pic tomorrow if you fancy a gander! 

Keep going boys. Couple of partnerships and another win beckons. I am predicting a day for the pumbaaaa and the metro here! 

Sadly Metro (Kneller) is out but Pumbaaaa (Smit) is still going strong. Savs then went on to say:

Oh. And you can imagine my smile when I see the legend that is Graeme labrooy as match referee. A fantastic line in the great 12th man cassettes!

Yeah - I forgot to mention that! Graeme Labrooy is here as match referee. The former Sri Lankan fast bolwer was made mega famous of course by the 12th Man - 'Grahemy Labrooy?? His name's Graeme Max!!'

I need to get my picture with him.

14.25, GSY 38 for 1 off 13.5

Guernsey are making slow but steady progress in the face of some tight Singaporean bowling. Frithy is accumulating while Smit is like a caged tiger waiting to pounce.

14.28 GSY 43 for 2 off 14.4

As I wrote that, Smitty goes caught behind. He didn't look himself out there. Tim Ravenscroft joins Frithy.

14.32

I also received a beaut of an email from Spencer 'Spenny' Noyon. The St Saviour's stalwart makes reference to Biggsy's description of Stuart Bisson having the body of an Bulgarian Weightlifter:

Scooners

 

Enjoy your trip.  We’ve had to suffer reading the wise words of Bradley Wiggins (Biggins) so far, and we look forward to reading a proper scribe’s work from now on.  To date, he’s been photo’d in the Press and interviewed on Radio Guernsey – he has clearly taken on the role of media whore full on. And yet no mention of his having the ‘most photographed armpits in Guernsey cricket’...? 

 

Oh, and if his roomie Fraggle has the “body of a Bulgarian weighlifter” (his words, not mine),  can I suggest that AB is well on the way to obtaining the ectomorph physique he so craves.  As is beautifully illustrated by the diagram below....

 

15.10, GSY 92 for 4 off 28

How many times have we said this... Frithy is holding Guernsey together. He's just past 50. If we're to win this, he needs to be outh there at the end.

15.31, GSY 98 for 4 off 30.4

Frithy and Ferbs are continuing to pick the low fruits... In the meantime, here's an email from Stevey Q and with Pippa Q. They've gone travelling and they're currently in Canada. The email is titled 'Thoughts From Afar':

Aaron

15.41, GSY 118 for 5 33

 With the two batsmen looking to push on, Ferbs goes well caught by the diving Param at point. Frithy has hit a couple of fours. David Hooper goes out.

Guernsey need 106 to win off 102 balls.

15.47 GSY 123 for 5 off 34

As Dave Nuss has just pointed out, it's 12345...

Frithy is pulling out all his party tricks - the ramp shot has made an appearance!

15.50 GSY 126 for 6 of 34.3

Hoops goes - chipping one up to cover. The hero from Div 6 in Malaysia - Tom Kimber strides out. He's a man with a mind for victory.

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