Word From the Coach
The 2011 Guernsey Cricket Team season was the busiest in it’s history with the introduction of the new ICC T20 event played in Guernsey and Jersey and the ICC World Cricket League Division 6, played in Kuala Lumpur. Along with warm up games and the Inter-Insular it was a hectic season for the players and management. Having said that, it is a huge privilege for both players and management to represent Guernsey on the International stage and one we’re incredibly proud of.
Preparation for both events started back in February when the players started the winter training. Early morning fitness sessions with Jon le Tocq at Stormforce Fitness and weekly cricket technical skill sessions were the focus of the winter.
As the season got under way the players were preparing for the ICC T20 event. We had 2 wins against the MCC and then faced the introduction of the Guernsey Premier League and the franchised teams.
Mark Latter and Dave Nussbaumer deserve a huge thank you for their organisation and vision in planning this event. It was a huge success bringing the best of Guernsey domestic cricketers together and enabled Pete Vidamour and myself the opportunity to view players competing for a place in the T20 squad.
It’s fair to say that after all preparation during the GPL for the T20 tournament, we were hopeful of progressing to the next stage.
Despite not winning, reaching the semi finals was an achievement and we must not forget what has been achieved over the past 2 years. Yes, the players were disappointed as we did not produce our best cricket consistently but we must take heart for the outstanding team performance which brought us victory over Italy, who are ranked much higher than ourselves. As a squad we have learned a lot from the experience, which has highlighted areas of strength as well as areas for further development.
I strongly believe we have the players, talent, desire and belief to move forward as a team in all formats but I think we currently have a team that is much more suited to the 50 over game as opposed to T20. We have very good batsmen who like to set themselves for a big innings and this has proved successful in previous 50 over tournaments but this is not so conducive to T20 where the game requires quicker decision-making and higher risk taking. This is not a slight on the players or on our preparation but T20 is a frantic game. It has taken some First Class counties in the UK a few years to find a method to play T20 cricket.
Almost as soon as the T20 was over we set about planning and selecting for Malaysia.
The Inter Insular was played a week before our departure for Kuala Lumpur and we were desperate to readdress the balance after our T20 defeat to Jersey earlier in the year.
Jeremy Frith (129) and Captain, Stuart Le Prevost (44) took the attack to the Jersey bowlers and saw us up to 273 from our 50 overs. Jersey never threatened as their young batting line up was exposed after Chris van Vliet grabbed a couple of early wickets on debut. Spinners, Frith and Rich took 6 wickets between them and Jersey were bowled out for 126.
Saturday 10th September saw the squad depart for Kuala Lumpur. With a week of warm up games and training sessions to acclimatise to the weather and familiarise ourselves with the Malaysian wickets, the players were well prepared for the week ahead.
The cricket was tough and conditions at times were punishing with heat and extreme humidity coupled with the odd topical storm! I always fancied our chances in the Tournament as long as we could stand up when we were under pressure.
There were moments throughout the early parts of the tournament when we needed a performance to change the game. Frith with 3 scores of 80 in succession, the captains 52 against Fiji, Lee Savident’s 82 against Fiji and miserly opening bowling, and Ross Knellor’s 50 at a run-a-ball against Jersey were stand out performances. The first time I saw how much we really believed we could go all the way was when Jamie Nussbaumer produced an outstanding spell in the final overs against Kuwait, who were nearing victory. Jamie showed his qualities that day as he bowled with pace, aggression, skill and with a calm head as he tore through their batting to finish worthy man of the match with figures of 5-35. Guernsey were 3 wins from 3 games.
After rain had the final say in the game against Nigeria, we played Malaysia for a guaranteed promotion place into Division 5. Lee Savident again was superb with the new ball grabbing 2 early wickets and bowling his 10 overs straight in searing heat. Stu Bisson took 2 wickets and Frith 3-16 as Malaysia were kept under pressure.
Chasing 171 was some way below par and we just needed to bat sensibly. GH Smit and Savident got us off to a good start before we were 3 down. Tim Ravenscroft was looking set before he was involved in a run out and when Captain, Stu Le Prevost, was run out by a deflection off the bowler, we needed to calm the nerves. Ross Knellor (35*) and Ben Ferbrache (19*) stood firm under pressure and took us over the line.
To gain promotion to World Division 5 was always our goal but the players and management wanted to win a trophy and protect our 14 50-over game undefeated run.
Pete Vidamour and I needed to view some of the players who had not had much opportunity on the trip and with a few injuries we made some changes for the final game. This by no means weakened the team but provided opportunity for other players to make a statement.
Malaysia scored 208 after we again bowled tightly. At 65-7 we were out of the game and preparing ourselves for defeat and not winning the trophy, despite winning the Division by some margin.
Tom Kimber and David Hooper were still at the wicket with Jamie Nussbaumer and Chris Van Vliet left to bat. In my time as a player and as a coach I have seen plenty of brilliant cameos but never from young players, in a final, with 3 wickets left and with 35 overs to bat. What I, and the rest of the team witnessed that afternoon will stay with me forever and is the most outstanding fight back I have ever seen. David Hooper’s innings of 45 on his debut tour was superb. He and Tom Kimber added 96 for the 8th wicket. When Jamie Nussbaumer walked to the wicket at No.10 we still required 47. Jamie and Tom continued to build a partnership and when Jamie launched their opening bowler over long on for a massive 6 we were on the brink of a unbelievable win. Tom Kimber, who had kept wicket all week struck a boundary with 3 balls to spare and played the innings of his life scoring 82 not out from 92 balls. Guernsey had finally won a major tournament.
We will of course enjoy the success of 2011 but Singapore will soon be upon us. I want us to build from here. Set a new benchmark, standards and new goals. I’m excited about the future and believe there is more to come from this squad.
My job is also about looking to the future and at our up and coming players in our youth squads. Finding opportunities to blood these young players and integrate them into the senior set up is crucial for our long term planning. Yes, they need the skill levels but they also have to have the right attitude and a burning desire to play for Guernsey. The senior team has shown this quality time and time again.
I hope that any young players reading this or having read about the teams success realises the amazing opportunities there are for committed Guernsey cricketers now through ICC.
I have the privilege of working with an outstanding group of players and management group who are committed, driven and passionate about representing Guernsey. As individuals they have many outstanding qualities including resilience, fight, unity and belief but what I see from this group that pleases me most, is that we are a team.
I would like to thank the GCB for their continued support, Pete Vidamour (Manager) and Adam Rochford (Physio) for their outstanding work and having to put up with me!
Finally, I would like to thank our Team Sponsor, Ccnkos. They have provided the financial support to allow us to prepare our players to the highest standard. The ICC covers tournaments to Singapore and Malaysia but the funding required to prepare the team by taking them out to these countries early to acclimatize is vital and we are indebted to Cenkos for their continued support.
Andy Cornford
29 September 2011