Inter Insular #49 2000

The match was played at Grainville, Jersey
on Saturday 12th August 2000
for the Flemings Trophy
50 overs per side
Umpires Dave Bray (Guernsey) and John Le Gros (Jersey)
Scorers Sue Veillard (Guernsey) Jane Le Gros(Jersey)
Toss won by Jersey who elected to bat
Jersey won by 56 runs

Jersey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Guernsey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
C JonescBirkettbRich2971952040.8Culverwell102500305.0
M HaguecRickettsbBirket319250015.8Birkett9134122543.8
T CarlyoncHeadingtonbScoones5269935075.4Ricketts6033220185.5
W Jennernotout63761084182.9Scoones13147100783.6
*D GormanlbwbRich1125270144.0Rich12142230363.5
C DouglascRichbRicketts32274250118.5
B VowdenbRicketts086000.0
+†S Shortnotout65600120.0
C Grahamdnb
P Hortondnb
M Reynoldsdnb
Extras (b0, lb13, w10, nb0)23
Total (for 6 wkts in 50 overs)219
Fall of wickets
1-12(Hague),2-86(Jones),3-100(Carlyon),4-130(Gorman),5-204(Douglas),6-209(Vowden)

Guernsey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Jersey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
V KennycGormanbVowden1835432051.4Graham16428310321.8
T BeltoncDouglasbGraham2151454041.2Horton10.514143015.753.9
S E Le PrevostcCarlyonbGraham2350471.0046.0Vowden6024100364.0
R J VeillardlbwbHorton3237704086.5Carlyon50250005.0
*R P HeadingtoncJonesbGraham717121041.2Hague30150005.0
G J RichbHorton2737513073.0Reynolds5116100303.2
B RickettscHortonbReynolds2430050.0Douglas1040004.0
A BirkettbHorton314150021.4
A Scoonesrunout78141087.5
†+J FerbrachebHorton519201026.3
M Culverwellnotout49150044.4
Extras (b0, lb10, w4, nb0)14
Total (in 46.5 overs)163
Fall of wickets
1-43(Kenny),2-43(Belton),3-93(Le Prevost),4-105(Headington),5-113(Veillard),6-116(Ricketts),7-125(Birkett),8-151(Scoones),9-153(Rich),10-163(Ferbrache)

 

PREVIEW
Guernsey Press
Ricketts: ‘No time for nerves’ by Andy Biggins

Optimists all-rounder Bruce Ricketts makes his inter-insular debut today and the South African all-rounder is convinced that he will not be overawed by the occasion. ‘I am looking forward to beating Jersey. It is one thing that I would like to be part of before I leave the island’.
Ricketts – a Channel Islands and Guernsey hockey player – played most of his cricket in South Africa for a side called CBC Old Boys, a club side in Kimberley. He also gained provisional recognition throughout his junior days playing for Griqualand West. He is likely to bowl first change at Grainville and bat in the lower middle order. ‘I prefer coming on midway through the game or bowling at the death’, he added, ‘I still see myself as more of a batsman than a bowler though. I am not considered quick compared to some of the other chaps back home.’ He suggests he will not be apprehensive before the big game. ‘The moment that you start getting nervous then things start to go wrong’, said the 22-year-old, ‘The idea must be to go out and enjoy the occasion.’
Rovers’ Aaron Scoones is Guernsey’s other debutant today and, unlike Ricketts, admits that he starting to feel a few butterflies. ‘I realise how important the whole inter-insular thing is now to a Guernseyman’, he said, ‘the match is a huge event and I must admit that I am getting pretty nervous’. New to the island for this season Scoones played his cricket in the Durham League for Sunderland Cricket Club but believes that he now knows what motivates Guernsey cricketers. All-rounder Scoones bowled regular off-spin for Sunderland and batted at eight or nine and he will play a similar role for Guernsey. ‘With the ball I have been happy with my form this season’, he said, ‘with the bat I have not necessarily had the chance in the longer game’. Scoones is likely to bowl in tandem alongside Gary Rich, Guernsey’s most experienced inter-insular player.
Working on the premise that Jersey have struggled in the past against spin the duo have a huge part to play in proceedings today. ‘As far as I am concerned Jersey are not better than us. We have definitely got the better side’.

‘Hutton in – Ralph out?’ by Rob Batiste
Ralph Anthony’s hopes of a record-breaking 24th island cap at Grainville next weekend hang in the balance. Anthony leads the Over 40s into battle at Jersey’s premier ground tomorrow needing a convincing performance after missing out on last weekend’s island tour when fellow spinners Gary Rich and Aaron Scoones bowled well in tandem. Island manager Peter Vidamour is sure to play two slow bowlers at Grainville in either a four or five-man attack and there is little doubt that the two off-spinners also have the edge on Anthony in terms of fielding. While there is little to choose between Anthony and Scoones in terms of batting the fact that the Rovers’ all-rounder is relatively unknown to the Jersey batsmen, could be seen as an important advantage in what must be a close call for Vidamour. Scoones, perhaps crucially, has also shown himself to be a good back foot player, important on the faster and bouncier Grainville track. Dropped for last year’s inter-insular defeat at the College Field, Anthony, just about as committed a cricketer the island has, had vowed to win back his place and break the record of most Island appearances he shares with Warren Barrett. Another rebuff 12 months on would surely be a bitter blow and probably spell the end of a fine representative career.
Optimists’ Ian Damarell is a second Over 40 who could push his case for an Island recall with a stack of runs tomorrow but that seems unlikely. Instead the most likely player to come from out of the cold and the 15-strong Island squad is the South African Noel Hutton. He, too, is quite obviously a batsman more at home on hard tracks and is known to have interested Island manager Peter Vidamour from virtually the first moment he stepped on the island in May. Hutton, a member of the famous Wanderers club in Johannesburg, can hardly be said to have scored a stack of runs in NRG Pessimists’ colours. But he hit an impressive undefeated 44 for GCA B at Grainville at the beginning of last month and then there was this week’s last ball Evening League heroics against Optimists.
Vidamour won’t announce the team until after this weekend’s Over 40’s game and the Martin Gray KO semi-final between Optimists and Cobo. ‘I know the names of nine o the team,’ Vidamour said yesterday, adding he had two or three options for one other place and a second option for another. Should Hutton get the nod, and there is a good chance he will, the batsman most at danger will be St Saviour’s Richard Veillard. For a player of undoubted talent, he has endured an ordinary season, much like his club colleague Gary Tapp, also likely to miss out on the big day. A match-winning knock for Cobo’s Vince Kenny today could win him a return to Island colours, but his poor catching of late may count against him. Poor fielding does not help Mark Clapham’s cause either.
Vidamour has publicly stated his desire to play five front-line bowlers but his captain, Richard Headington, is known to favour going in with four and bringing in an extra batsman. I must say, given Guernsey’s miserable track record with the bat in the biggest of all CI clashes , I tend to agree with Headington. With no restrictions on bowlers in Island games four bowlers can do the business, and the likes of Headington, Andy Biggins and Hutton (if chosen) could also send down a few overs. It’s a risk of course to go in with just two quickies and two spinners but one which has its merits. If a fifth bowler is chosen expect it to be a third seamer and not an additional spinner which might just have been the case were the game at the KGV.
Rob Batiste’s XI
Richard Headington (capt), Tim Belton, Stuart Le Prevost, Andy Biggins, Noel; Hutton, Vince Kenny, Gary Rich, Bruce Ricketts, Aaron Scoones, Justin Ferbrache, Mark Culverwell.
Likely Island XI
Richard Headington (capt), Tim Belton, Stuart Le Prevost, Andy Biggins, Noel; Hutton, Gary Rich, Adrian Birkett, Bruce Ricketts, Aaron Scoones, Justin Ferbrache, Mark Culverwell.

‘Kenny in from cold’ by Rob Batiste
Vince Kenny is back in from the inter-island-cold and there are first caps for South African Bruce Ricketts and Englishman Aaron Scoones in the full Island side named yesterday. Island manager Peter Vidamour has also cast aside sentiment and omitted Ralph Anthony from the XI thus depriving the veteran Salemite a record-breaking 24th ‘Muratti’ cap at Grainville on Saturday. But arguably the biggest surprise is the omission of Optimists’ skipper Andy Biggins, the top scorer for GCA against JCL last month and a virtual ever present in Island sides this summer. ‘He’s the unfortunate one and I feel very sorry for him,’ said Vidamour. ‘Andy’s gone out of form at the wrong time,’ the manager added.
As for Anthony’s absence, the Island supremo said the Salemite knew he was very unlikely to get the nod after a largely unimpressive display with the ball at Grainville in the Over 40’s game on Sunday. ‘He didn’t bowl very well at the weekend and he did not really expect to play. Aaron and Gary bowled well on the tour, individually and as a pair.’ After much conjecture and agonising Vidamour finally plumped for a five-man bowling attack. ‘We felt we might be exposed with four bowlers.’
But it is the return of Cobo opener Kenny which will raise a few eyebrows down Jersey way. Kenny last lined up against Jersey in the 1995 defeat at the College Field but his superb late season form forced his recall. One of five Cobo players in the Guernsey XI Kenny will probably bat at first wicket down.
Guernsey XI Headington (capt), Belton, Kenny, Veillard, Le Prevost, Rich, Birkett, Scoones, Ricketts, Ferbrache (wkt), Culverwell. 12th man Biggins

‘Jenner back in the red’
Ward Jenner, captain of the Sarnian side in the last two Fleming Trophy inter-insulars, is back in the Jersey line-up for Saturday, but among the ranks and not as captain. Dave Gorman retains the captaincy of a tried and tested XI featuring no new caps. Jersey team manager, Keith Dennis, said that 12th man Jamie Brewster can consider himself unlucky. ‘He lost out on a batting spot, only through the selectors’ preference for Bradley Vowden, which has given our skipper a useful slow bowling option.’ The full team in likely batting order is:
Chris Jones, Matthew Hague, Tony Carlyon, Ward Jenner, Dave Gorman (capt), Craig Douglas, Simon Short (wkt), Bradley Vowden, Colin Graham, Paul Horton, Mark Reynolds.

‘Vidamour may hang up bat’ by Nigel Baudains
Peter Vidamour is considering quitting as a player. On the day his first full ‘Muratti’ team take on their Jersey adversaries at Grainville aiming to end a run of eight successive defeats in inter-insular cricket’s top game, the Island manager revealed he is seriously considering hanging up his bat. ‘I haven’t had the enjoyment as a player that I’ve had in other seasons but that’s part and parcel of the job. I’ve always said I don’t want to be a mediocre player and it’s getting that way to be honest. Next season I’ll certainly be reducing my involvement as a player and that’s if I play at all.’ On the question of whether the roles of Island manager and Cobo first-team player are compatible, given that there is a strong nucleus of Cobo players in the Guernsey team, he is adamant that it is not a problem. ‘I don’t think the situation with the Cobo guys has made it more difficult for me as an Island manager, as those players are there on merit.’ He admits it has affected his own game though. ‘On occasion I walk into the dressing room and things go very quiet and it’s definitely affected my form as a player.’
As for today’s game Vidamour thinks Guernsey’s day is about to come. ‘I’m really confident and I think we’re going to win it,’ he said. ‘It’s my belief we’re as good as Jersey, if not better, and I think our players have more belief in themselves.’ Vidamour is near the end of his first season as Guernsey manager and his verbal agreement with the Guernsey Cricket Association’s representative committee to do the job for three years is something he intends sticking to. ‘I think I’ve done most of the things I set out to do,’ he said. ‘I wanted to get things more organised, get a squad structure in place, and develop a sort of club spirit from it. If you speak to those involved I’ve no doubt that that has happened.’
The 41-year-old says he has been pleased with the attitude of his players who have all been 100% behind the cause. ‘It’s a big commitment for them, as many of them have families and may play in the region of 40 games in a season.’ But the workload has also taken its toll on Vidamour himself. Paul Wakeford and Mike Kinder were chosen by Vidamour to help him out on the playing side and nephew Mark Vidamour has recently been drafted in to handle the heavy administration load. ‘I want to concentrate on the playing side more and not get bogged down with all the admin work,’ said Vidamour. ‘I would estimate that the island manager’s job has taken up about 10 hours of my time per week, then I’ve got my playing on top of that.’
Constraints on his time mean the island manager has still got areas that he wants to address. ‘I haven’t spent the time I’d like talking to the players on an individual basis which is disappointing but that has been down to the time thing,’ he said. ‘I’d have also liked to have done more with the Under 21s. Although I pick the team with Mark Vidamour, I’d like to have more input, which, hopefully I’ll be able to do next year.’
Playing unfamiliar and quality opposition is of the utmost importance to the island boss who said the recent tour to Hampshire was a major success. ‘This season we’ve played about 10 games whereas in the past we’ve only had about two or three,’ he said. ‘Playing these sort of games can only improve our game, but it’s all about money and we’re lucky to have a sponsor like BGL Private Bank (CI).’
Vidamour sais his first season in charge has been reasonably successful though there is more work to be done yet. ‘I’m aware that many will judge me by Saturday’s result and I think those outside of our squad may not realise how much work the players have done in the past few months.’

‘A match of great significance’ by Rob Batiste
Jersey captain Dave Gorman has stressed that this inter-insular is of great significance. On the back of Jersey defeats in the under 21s and over 40s games, Gorman is determined that Jersey gets something out of this season at a representative level. ‘I think that the difference in the two sides is not as great as the history between the two sides over the last eight years suggests,’ said Gorman before his second game in charge. ‘This has been highlighted by the success of Guernsey’s clubs in the Channel Islands Knockout. ‘Guernsey has the talent to win a senior inter-insular but having suffered two defeats this season Jersey know that this inter-insular takes on an even greater importance. ‘I, for one, am feeling gutted after Sunday,’ he added, referring to the last ball defeat in the over 40s match last week when he was Jersey captain. ‘We will not be taking this match lightly.’
While he is confident that the Jersey selectors have picked the right side, he is also aware that Guernsey has the men required to do the job. ‘If we do slip up Guernsey will be only too keen to grab any chance that we throw their way. I am very surprised by the omission of Andy Biggins – as far as I am concerned his non-selection is a big plus from our point of view. We were aware this season that he was a dangerous player and in the GCA/JCL game he proved that and almost did enough with the bat to win the game for Guernsey,’ he said. ‘Nevertheless, the Guernsey side has its key players and it perhaps has a more varied bowling attack than us.’
Guernsey manager Peter Vidamour’s tricky decisions are not necessarily the norm for the Jersey selectors. ‘Our side tends to pick itself and the only question this year was ensuring that we had enough different options in the bowling department.’ said Gorman. ‘For that reason we have selected Bradley Vowden to bowl his spin and there is a good chance that he will be used.’ In a typically balanced Jersey side, the old enemy has somehow managed to fit nine batsmen and eight bowlers into one side. batsmen Chris Jones, Matt Hague, Tony Carlyon, Craig Douglas and Vowden all bowl while Colin Graham, Paul Horton and Mark Reynolds constitute Gorman’s primary options with the ball. ‘As far as we are concerned this game is the big one,’ added the Jersey skipper.’ Both sides will be very tense – I just get the feeling that this match constitutes a point of inflexion. Whoever wins this game will win the next two or three. I remain confident that we have selected the right side and I am confident in their ability to approach the game in the right way. I am looking forward to an exciting match and I wish Guernsey all the best,’ he added.

MATCH
Guernsey Press
Jersey keep rolling along. Jersey recorded their ninth consecutive victory over Guernsey.
‘No win for nine years’ by Gareth Le Prevost

The new millennium began in much the same vein as the last one ended – Guernsey being beaten by Jersey. For the second time Dave Gorman lifted the Flemings Trophy to signal another triumph for the Caesareans to leave Guernsey without a win in the main inter-insular since 1991. While there can be no doubting that every single one of the Guernsey side gave of their best, there appears to be nothing they can do to stop this very strong Jersey line up.
Guernsey did bowl and field well in the hot conditions at Grainville and a target of 220 was lower than seemed likely at one stage. But some exceptional captaincy from Gorman mixed with a couple of lapses from the batsmen and a slice of luck meant that Sarnian hopes were ended for another year with more than three overs remaining. Things started to go Gorman’s way when he won the toss at the beginning of the day and elected to have first use of a relatively slow Grainville strip – a decision that Richard Headington would have taken if the coin had dropped his way.
Chris Jones – only recently back from a hand in jury – and Matthew Hague took their time to play themselves in against Mark Culverwell and Adrian Birkett. Culverwell beat the outside edge of both batsmen in his early overs but it was Birkett who made the breakthrough in his third over. Hague has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of scoring opportunities and chased a wide one. Bruce Ricketts – the Optimists’ debutant – turned from his position at point to take a terrific over-the-shoulder catch, much to the delight of his colleagues.
Tony Carlyon – so often Guernsey’s nemesis – strolled out to the wicket but, like Jones and Hague, found early scoring chances limited. The first four came with a Carlyon clip through midwicket although it did not cross the line. The batsmen had to do all of the running. As the opening bowlers came to the end of their initial spells the run rate increased. Carlyon produced a couple of boundaries with fine cut shots while Jones’ first four came with a strong off drive off Ricketts at the Indoor Bowls Stadium end. A significant moment came in the 16th over that proved to be costly. Culverwell directed one at middle-and-leg which Carlyon intended to work through the leg side. Instead the ball deflected off the back of his bat and Stuart Le Prevost just failed to hold on to the ball diving one-handed to his right at wide first slip.
The introduction of spin by Headington was effective to two ends – the run-rate was slowed considerably and the vital second wicket was captured. Jones had just pulled a rare bad ball by Aaron Scoones for four when he was lured into a drive by Gary Rich and gifted Birkett a straight forward chance at mid-off. Jones departed with a patient 29 to his name.
Ward Jenner joined Carlyon with the foundation set – 86 for 2. Carlyon brought up his half century in the first over after drinks with a pushed single to long-off but the control of the spinners was emphasised in the fact that he only added two more in the next four overs before being dismissed. Scoones deservedly got among the wickets when Headington took an amazing catch at short backward square, diving forward to a well-times sweep from the Sporting Club man. Jenner came close to following Carlyon when a pull off Rich fell just short of Ricketts in the outfield and at this stage Guernsey were well in the game.
The Jersey number four again came close top giving his wicket away when he stranded himself in the middle of the pitch looking for a single bit a poor throw from Le Prevost handed him a lifeline. Gorman had come in at the fall of Carlyon and Rich gifted him a full toss for the first six of the day into the tennis courts. Rich’s revenge came shortly after however when Gorman was trapped in front on his back foot to give the Cobo man his second wicket. At 130 for 4 from 37 overs a couple of quick wickets would have put Guernsey in the driving seat but Jenner and Craig Douglas had other ideas. Jenner hit the second and final six of the match over deep square leg off Scoones and South African Douglas was quick to pick up on anything loose.
Headington brought back his quicker bowlers to complete the 50 overs and the youngest – Birkett – showed excellent maturity to restrict the runs while Ricketts claimed two wickets. Rich took a very calm catch at deep mid-on to dismiss Douglas for a well compiled 32 from 27 balls while Bradley Vowden edged on in the penultimate over. 219 for 6 from 50 overs – Jenner unbeaten with 63 – was the type of score Guernsey would have been expecting to chase at the start of the day. In their eight previous games this term though Guernsey have been unable to score 200 with the bat – setting or chasing.
The reply started in positive fashion with Vince Kenny and Tim Belton putting on 43. Kenny hit two boundaries in his 18 – one being a majestic back-foot drive off Colin Graham – but he was first to fall. Vowden had been brought on early by Gorman and it was the captain who held on to a chance at mid wicket from the off-spinner’s bowling. Belton had looked good with some well-struck drives off Paul Horton and Vowden, but Graham – once again the best bowler on show accounted for him, caught at backward square off a top edge. This meant that Le Prevost and Richard Veillard had come together without either facing a ball. The pair did put on an impressive 50 partnership with both players looking good on either side of the wicket, particularly the St Saviour’s player, who hit Carlyon out of the attack. But Le Prevost went soon after the drinks break, edging a back foot drive to slip where a juggling catch was taken by who else but Carlyon.
Captain Headington became Graham’s third victim when Jones somehow managed to hold on to an incredible catch at short leg. The vital wicket of Veillard fell with the return of Horton. A full length delivery seemed to catch much of his inside edge into the pads but the finger went up with an appeal from behind the stumps and Guernsey’s top scorer with 32 was on his way. The final five wickets then fell fro 50 runs. Ricketts mistimed a pull to square leg and Birkett had his off stump knocked back by Horton. Scoones was run out going for a third run that simply was not there and then Rich – who batted well for his 27 with little support – fell to a corker of a Horton slower ball. The St Ouen quickie finished with figures of 4 for 41 with Justin Ferbrache his final victim, wrapping up the match and the trophy for yet another year.
Dave Gorman. This was our ninth consecutive win and I think it was a great win because we went into the game with no complacency – we had to perform at our peak and we did. I chopped and changed the bowlers and fortunately it cam off for us but the margin of almost 60runs does not reflect the game as the difference was not that great. I think it will be another cracking game nest year- it keeps getting close and closer.
Peter Vidamour. We would have liked them to get a few less runs but a quality team like Jersey is always likely to get 200 on a good pitch, which it was. Five of our first six batsmen got a start and did not het past 35. Some of them got themselves out and Richard Veillard was unlucky to get a shocking decision. Gary Rich was the outstanding member in our side. He has always been talented and I think the confidence has now come to go with it. Our batsmen just do not have the habit of going on to get a big score – we seem to score very good 30s or 40s – they should be getting 80s or hundreds.

REVIEW
Guernsey Press
‘Yet more agony for Guernsey’ by Gareth Le Prevost

‘Disappointing’ is how Island manager Peter Vidamour described Guernsey’s latest defeat at the hands of Jersey. The Sarnians fell by 56 runs at Grainville on Saturday and to rub salt into the wounds, Ward Jenner – who started the season as captain of Guernsey – walked away with the man-of-the-match award after a superb innings of 63 not out.
To be fair to the visiting side the margin of victory did flatter Jersey slightly but there can be no denying that once again they proved to have the big match temperament. ‘We matches them in the bowling and fielding departments but our batsmen that got in did not go on to make 50s or 60s as theirs did and that was the difference.’ said Vidamour after taking control of his first inter-insular. ‘I also think they had the rub of the green on the day – we did not have much luck – but the result does not come down to that,’ he added.
The outstanding Guernsey performance came from the spin duo of Gary Rich and debutant Aaron Scoones but yet again Guernsey played second fiddle to the likes of Jenner, Tony Carlyon and Colin Graham who all helped to claim a ninth successive victory for Dave Gorman’s side.

‘Club sides to miss out’ by Nicky Hayward
Island cricket manager Peter Vidamour is looking for more commitment from his island side next year. But this in turn will mean less commitment to their club sides. Guernsey lost the inter-insular for the ninth consecutive year on Saturday but the manager is looking forward to next year. ‘We have made some progress this year but we’ve got a lot more work to do and that means getting the players together on amore regular basis during the season,’ said Vidamour. ‘We’ve worked on building a good team spirit but we haven’t concentrated enough on their own performances. I’d like to see a squad training session at the same time every week like most other sports in Guernsey but because of the extensive number of club games it’s not possible at the moment. There are currently too many matches and the players might have a week’s gap between games and that’s not good preparation. We have played nine island matches over the season which has helped bring the team together,’ Vidamour added. ‘But we need to work on their mental approach.’
Vidamour was impressed with the way his side bowled and fielded against Jersey but said that the batting needed more work. That said, the island manager was not totally disappointed with how Guernsey started their innings. But they didn’t have the application required to chase the match. ‘Five of our top six batsmen got reasonable figures but too many of the players in Guernsey consider that getting 30 or 40 runs is their job done. But in any game, not just an island game, they should be looking to get 80 or 90 and win the game for their side. We talked about their responsibilities before the game and talked about them getting in and getting a big score. Unfortunately that didn’t happen’
Vidamour will be with the island side next year and has already been considering what to do next. ‘I’ve been thinking about how to improve things over the past few weeks and it’s going to need a lot more commitment from all of the players, which may mean cutting down the number of club games. It may take a couple of years but I’m prepared for that and keen to get it right,’ said the manager.