Inter Insular #31 1982

The match was played at Grainville,Jersey
on Sunday 15th August 1982
for the John Haig Scotch Whisky Trophy
Umpires Ken G Clayton (Guernsey) and Dr Ron L Osment (Jersey)
Scorers Richard Gauvain (Guernsey) and Pauline Kelly (Jersey)
55 overs per side
Guernsey won toss and elected to field
Guernsey won by 8 wickets

Jersey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Guernsey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
W GallichancLe CocqbDobson1340581032.5Dobson15.353760015.32.4
R WoodbDobson2680033.3Creed1.5130002.0
A PitmanbDobson011000.0Mills2.1080023.8
+†J HolmeslbwbAnthony4181895050.6Le Cocq30100003.3
D FauxcMillsbBarrett026000.0Barrett18632210541.8
*J WallscBarrettbDobson01314000.0Anthony1059200300.9
S BlampiedstWebberbAnthony03332000.0
D BillinghamcWebberbDobson1654600029.6
P RobsoncHunterbBarrett2449353049.0
M Cowardnotout315210020.0
B MiddletonbDobson0127000.0
Extras (b6, lb4, w1, nb2)13
Total (in 50.3 overs)112
Fall of wickets
1-3(Wood),2-3(Pitman),3-38(Gallichan),4-41(Faux),5-50(Walls),6-65(Holmes),7-68(Blampied),8-101(Robson),9-110(Billingham),10-112(Middleton)

Guernsey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Jersey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
†+M C C WebbercFauxbRobson2658712044.8Middleton184571021083.2
P L Le CoccqcPitmanbMiddleton1432372043.8Coward51130002.6
J Woodnotout54821086065.9Robson12.203911073.23.2
W E R Barrettnotout1543742034.9
*R W Millsdnb
N Hunterdnb
P Vidamourdnb
H A J Mountforddnb
R E H Anthonydnb
A Creeddnb
M Dobsondnb
Extras (b1, lb2, w1, nb2)6
Total (for 2 wkts in 35.2 overs)115
Fall of wickets
1-28(Le Cocq),2-63(Webber)

 

PREVIEW
Guernsey Press on Saturday 14th August
It won’t be easy , but Guernsey will win!        by Mick Fooks

It seems likely that tomorrow’s cricket inter-insular match in Jersey – the top encounter on the CI cricket calendar – will be decided on the strength of an individual performance, in common with many matches in recent seasons between players of Guernsey and Jersey.
I think that it will be a Guernsey player who will provide that performance. I’m basing my view on the belief that Guernsey have more potential match-winners than Jersey. And in stating that an individual will take the honours, I am not forgetting the last match between the islands at Grainville two years ago when Guernsey won the John Haig Trophy for the first time as a result of a fine team performance. Guernsey will win again, but it will be no easy ride.
In Barry Middleton, Jersey have a fast bowler of quality; a bowler capable of destroying a good batting side, as he showed in last year’s inter-insular at Guernsey’s College Field when he virtually won the match single-handed with eight wickets.
The Grainville wicket is expected to suit pace bowlers like Middleton who can extract lift. But if it does prove helpful to Middleton, it will also be tailor-made for our own strike bowler Miles Dobson who has proved a thorn in the flesh of Jersey batsmen in the past. And Guernsey also has Andy Creed to take advantage of any wicket with bounce.
Backing up Middleton in the Jersey pace attack will be Mike Coward, Paul Robson and Alan Pitman while batsman Don Faux will be on hand should the Jersey skipper want another spinner to assist specialist Stephen Blampied. It seems impressive. But I feel that the Guernsey side has a stronger bowling set-up. In addition to Dobson and Creed, the Sarnian team has a potential match-winner in off-spinner Warren Barrett. Further variation in attack can be provided by skipper Ricky Mills with his teasing left-arm medium pacers, Pierre Le Cocq and the left-arm spin of Ralph Anthony.
On the batting front Guernsey has, in Neil Hunter, the batsman most likely to dominate the match. Proof of this is the way in which he took apart the Jersey bowling (including Middleton) in this season’s GCA-JCL match.
Guernsey’s batting has a very solid look with the likes of Le Cocq, Mike Webber, Julian Wood, Ricky Mills and John Mountford all capable of a big innings. Then there are the stroke makers – Barrett, Hunter, new boy Peter Vidamour and Anthony – to capitalise on a firm base.

Two new caps in the Guernsey team – Pete Vidamour and Julian Wood                          GEP

On paper, Jersey’s batting does not seem as powerful. Skipper Jim Walls and his probable opening partner, Richard Wood, have both scored a lot of runs in Jersey this summer. And wicket-keeper John Holmes, likely to be at number three, has a proven record in this series.
Then there are question marks. At No 4 will be Faux who, despite having a reputation for scoring runs in Jersey, has failed to produce the goods on most occasions against the ‘old enemy’.
The come the two new caps, Wayne Gallichan and Blampied. Both scored runs in last weekend’s under-23 match, but I have seen far better innings from several of Guernsey’s younger players. Dave Billingham is something of a surprise choice. He has had a break since his last appearance at this level, but is not afraid to play his shots.
Then comes Pitman, who opens for his club in the league, followed by the rest of the bowlers. The new Jersey skipper, Walls, will not have an easy task facing the experienced Mills, who has captained Guernsey in several inter-insulars.
Since the match became limited overs for the Haig Trophy it has been a low-scoring game. It would be good for inter-island cricket, and for spectators, if this was to change. The match will start at 10.30am or 10.45am with the number of overs – almost certainly at least 55 – being decided on the day.
The two sides in likely batting order: Jersey – 1. J Walls (capt); 2. R Wood; 3. J Holmes; 4. D Faux; 5. W Gallichan; 6. S Blampied; 7.D Billingham; 8. A Pitman; 9. P Robson; 10. M Coward; 11. B Middleton; 12th man M Bailey.
Guernsey – 1. M Webber; 2. P Le Cocq; 3. J Wood; 4. R Mills (capt); 5. N Hunter; 6. W Barrett; 7. P Vidamour; 8. J Mountford; 9. R Anthony; 10. A Creed; 11. M Dobson; 12th man R Batiste.

Wednesday 11th August
‘Mills is Guernsey skipper but Jersey leave out Breed’        by Rob Batiste

Ricky Mills has as expected been named to lead the Guernsey side in next Sunday’s inter-insular at Grainville in Jersey. The three-man selection committee have chosen a 15-man squad for the match and the 12 players to travel will be finalised on Monday evening.
Meanwhile the Jersey selectors have caused something of a shock by not naming Derek breed in their side. Breed must be regarded one of the best all-rounder players in the islands and his omission is very surprising to me. The Jersey team will be captained by Jim Walls, one of three Springfield players in the team. The full side is: Jim Walls, Dave Billingham (St Luke’s), Stephen Blampied (Caesareans), Mike Coward (St Ouen), Don Faux (St Luke’s), Wayne Gallichan (OVs), John Holmes (Yorkies), Barry Middleton (Springfield), Alan Pitman (Caesareans), Paul Robson (Ramblers), Richard Wood (Springfield). 12th man: Mark Bailey (Caesareans)
Alan Pitman’s choice in the side means he becomes one of those rare breed of sportsmen who have represented their island at both football and cricket. Pitman is a left-arm medium pace bowler and right hand batsman.
David Hunt, match manager and one of the Jersey selectors, said of the team, ‘This looks like a pretty well balanced side and seems ideally suited to the hard and fast track we’ve had at Grainville this season.’

‘Experience at the top will do players good’        by Mick Fooks
The Guernsey selectors have set the local cricketing scene buzzing with their preliminary selection of 15 players, and this will not have been lessened with the decision to play Rovers skipper John Mountford in the final 11. Mountford is no stranger to island games, and is a steady bat who has had some good knocks both on grass and in league cricket. However, Damarell must be considered a little unlucky not to have gained the nod. He would have given the side a more youthful look in the field, not that Mountford is not among the top fielders in the island.
Paul Wakeford, who it seems did not make the final 15, is another good bat and fine fielder, as is Alistair Tapp, though both have run hot and cold with the bat. However, I am very surprised that Cobo newcomer Geoff Orme did not make the 15, and I feel there could have been room for him in the 11. The 11th spot almost certainly took some thought, and I think that Orme’s bowling could have proved of benefit. He is also no mug with the bat and is one of the finest fielders in the island.
The Guernsey bowling will be spearheaded by Miles Dobson and Andy Creed, with Pierre Le Cocq, Ricky Mills and if needed, newcomer Julian Wood, to back these up.
With the important spin department – always a thorn in Jersey’s side – taken care of by Warren Barrett and Ralph Anthony, who has developed his slow bowling throughout the season, Guernsey still have a well-balanced attack. Perhaps if Tapp had bowled as he did in his two matches last weekend earlier in the season he would have pipped Anthony for this spot, but the latter is capable of scoring valuable runs and does not worry where he has to bat.
The selection newcomers Wood and Vidamour comes as no surprise, particularly after Vidamour’s knock in Jersey last weekend. However, I still have a question mark against his ability against genuine pace, and Jersey’s Barry Middleton will certainly provide that. Wood, in his first season in Guernsey, has produced some sound batting displays, and looks a long innings player. Let’s hope he can produce one on Sunday. Scoring runs has been a problem in recent years in inter-island fixtures, but with players of the calibre of Neil Hunter, Barrett, Le Cocq and wicket-keeper Mike Webber Guernsey, on paper, are strong in this department.
I cannot let the controversial selection of the 15 go without comment. I understand the other players who did not get into the side were Rob Batiste, the 12th man, Paul Redhead, Ian Damarell and Cobo wicket-keeper Graham Marquand. The selection of the two Cobo players, Batiste and Marquand, raised a few eyebrows. Marquand has had a very good season behind the stumps, and is undoubtedly, on form, the number two wicket-keeper to Webber. However, I cannot see why the selectors were looking beyond Webber, a very competent keeper standing up or back, and a certainty with the bat. I also question Marquand’s experience on grass, and in keeping wicket to good spin bowling, something against which he has had little practice. Batiste has made some useful scores this season on both grass and in league cricket, and I thought him unlucky not to be considered at the time for the GCA side. He has proved his ability against a variety of bowling attacks this summer, but I would have been surprised if he made the full 11. His selection as 12th man is just reward for his season, but my personal opinion is that this position should be filled by the best fielder. Batiste is one of the quickest fielders around and has a sound throw, but with due respect, does not have the safest pair of hands.
The final man in the 15, Redhead, is something of a surprise. He has bowled well on the hard wickets, but like many of the quicker island bowlers has struggled somewhat on grass. I am surprised he got the nod over Orme, and one or two other top bowlers.
As for the Jersey selection, many Guernsey cricket followers will have been surprised at the omission of Derek Breed, last year’s captain. However, his omission comes as no surprise to Jersey cricket followers.
Finally I would like to say that the selectors have picked a strong Guernsey team, and one which should see us home. Selectors are criticised in every sport, and they have an unenviable task, which as a previous selector I am very well aware of.
If the last three years the Haig Trophy has been played for are anything to go by, the visiting side have come away the victors, let’s hope this record is maintained.
Because of the uncertainties of air travel, the sponsors have insisted that the Guernsey side travel by boat, so the local side will be travelling on the morning of the match. With an early start, a decision on overs will be taken on the day, but it is likely to be at least 55 overs per side.

J Mountford    P Vidamour    N Hunter    A Creed    R Anthony    J Wood    R Batiste (12th man)

M Dobson    W Barrett    R Mills    P Le Cocq    M Webber

MATCH
Guernsey Press on Monday 15th August
‘Miles Dobson and Julian Wood star in eight-wicket success’ by Dave Edmonds

Fast bowler Miles Dobson turned in another match-winning performance as Guernsey cruised to an eight-wicket victory in yesterday’s cricket inter-insular at Grainville, Jersey.
Dobson, so often the scourge of Jersey batsmen in recent seasons, did it again with six for 37 off 15 overs as Jersey were dismissed for just 112.
Guernsey’s batsmen, led by Julian Wood, who made a splendid unbeaten 54, made sure that Dobson’s efforts were not in vain as they won the Haig Whisky Trophy with more than 20 overs to spare.

Ricky Mills receives the John Haig Trophy                            GEP

Dobson’s wholehearted performance which won him the man-of-the-match award, got the Guernsey team off the hook a little as the lack of a third fast bowler was exposed in just the fourth over when Andy Creed had to leave the field with a pulled muscle high in his right thigh. Skipper Ricky Mills used himself and Pierre Le Cocq as support for Dobson, then turned to the off-spin of Warren Barrett after just 15 overs, but the absence of Creed was a real bonus for Jersey’s struggling batsmen.
Mills won the toss and put Jersey in, and whether Jersey read more into this than they need have is an interesting point. There were all sorts of theories that the pitch may have sweated beneath the covers, but there was a suspicion that a few of the Jersey batsmen did not really have the heart for a confrontation with Dobson.
Left-hander John Holmes was the main exception with an innings of 41 which spanned more than 1½ hours and in which he showed a fine mixture of sound defence and strong attacking play. Opener Wayne Gallichan was the only other one of the first seven batsmen to give him support, and Jersey can thank the experienced Dave Billingham and Paul Robson, who put on 33 for the eighth wicket, that they reached three figures. Dobson tore into the Jersey batsmen from the start and they were three for two, with opener Richard Wood and debutant Alan Pitman back in the pavilion after being bowled off successive deliveries.
Some of the Guernsey close-to-the-wicket catching left a little to be desired with Gallichan and Holmes both being given ‘lives’. Wood was the culprit when Gallichan edged Le Cocq to second slip and he ended up with a black eye after deflecting the ball into his face. The score then was 35 for two, but Gallichan was to last only until the next over when Dobson found the outside edge of his bat and Le Cocq held a smart, low slip catch.

Newcomer Julian Wood shows aggression during his match-winning knock                                  GEP 

The early introduction of Barrett had immediate effect when he dismissed Don Faux as the Jerseyman continued his miserable run of scores in inter-insular cricket. The Jersey batsman thought that he had not hit the ball which Mills dived forward from short leg to catch, but the umpire had no doubt and Jersey were 41 for four. Holmes was still playing well and he hooked Dobson for one fine four as the 50 came up in the 19th over. Whatever the Guernsey side’s catching lapses, their ground fielding was excellent with Neil Hunter outstanding in the cover area as Jersey struggled for runs even when they put the full face of the bat to the ball.
Jersey skipper Jim Walls had not looked as ease and when he top edged a ball from Dobson, Barrett moved back from slip to take the catch and reduce Jersey to 50 for 5.
The wicket Guernsey really wanted, that of Holmes, came a little unexpectedly after Mills had take Dobson off for a well-earned rest. Perhaps the Jersyman relaxed after seeing the fast bowler off, because he missed the third ball he faced from Ralph Anthony and when it hit him on the pads the umpire upheld the Guernsey team’s appeals. That was 65 for six and it became 68 for seven when Stephen Blampied, who had been in for 10 overs and faced 33 balls without scoring, lifted his back foot stretching forward to Anthony and wicket-keeper Mike Webber pulled off a quick stumping.
Billingham and Robson saw Jersey through to lunch without undue difficulty with the score on 81 for seven off 37 overs, and Mills rather surprisingly did not recall Dobson to the attack on the resumption. Robson was just starting to hit the ball dangerously well from a Guernsey point of view when he was brilliantly caught by Hunter on the extra-cover boundary and Dobson returned to wrap up the innings by dismissing Billingham and Barry Middleton.
Middleton gave Webber a couple of bruises in the first couple of overs, and both Guernsey openers were inclined to wave their bats at the ball outside the off stump.
They settled their nerves with a couple of fours, one all run after a firm shot by Le Cocq through mid wicket, and put on 28 for the first wicket before Le Cocq edged Middleton to Alan Pitman at second slip.
Mike Coward, who opened the bowling with Middleton, was disappointing and he was replaced after five overs by Robson, who tempted Wood to edge the ball to slip before he had scored, but Pitman dropped a chance which was easier than the one he had just caught. Webber hit Robson for a fine boundary through the covers, then in the next over, Wood, making the most of his ‘life’ drove Middleton for four top bring up the 50 in the 17th over.
After a couple of typically fiery overs Middleton began to look ordinary and it was Robson who ended the second wicket partnership of 35 when Webber went to hit hard through mid wicket, caught the ball on the bottom of the bat, and was well taken by Faux. Wood and Warren Barrett, who got off the mark with a four over the wicket-keeper’s head, saw Guernsey through to 77 for two off 25 overs at tea, and the only question still to be answered was when they would win, and not if. Barrett played a very responsible innings and was content to allow debutant Wood to pick up the runs. Wood reached his half century with a flick off his legs for four, and he ended the match by smashing the next ball from Robson for four to the cover boundary.

Miles Dobson receives the man-of-the-match award                                GEP

REVIEW
Guernsey Press on Saturday 21st August
Teammates dub Julian ‘a true Guernseyman’ by Dave Edmonds

No-one questioned Miles Dobson’s selection as man-of-the-match in the cricket inter-insular, but for debutant batsman Julian Wood there was an even greater accolade.
The Guernsey supporters, celebrating the easy eight-wicket victory over Jersey at Grainville, pronounced that the likeable Wood was now a true Guernseyman after scoring an unbeaten half-century against the old enemy.
Wood seemed genuinely pleased to have been part of the success on a day when Guernsey were clearly the superior side in every department.
Dobson’s hold over the majority of the Jersey players has reached such a level that they are apprehensive about facing him even before they reach the wicket, and when they do get there they are convinced that he is working all sorts of magic with the ball. This is a state of affairs which Dobson will do little to discourage but a lot of his success because he bowls straight and keeps the ball up to the bat.
The majority of his victims in the Evening League have been clean bowled, and he showed the value of pitching the ball up last Sunday with three players clean bowled and two caught off edges to slip and wicket-keeper. In contrast, Jersey’s main fast bowler, Barry Middleton, persisted in pitching the ball short, and consequently was never threatening to bowl any of the Guernsey batsmen. He is fast enough to give batsmen a rough ride, but both Pierre Le Cocq and Mike Webber got into line well and the only real problem they faced early on was when Webber tried to cut the lifting ball outside the off stump.
I was amazed that Jersey skipper Jim Walls persisted with Middleton and Paul Robson when Wood and Warren Barrett were looking so comfortable. A change in bowling might have disrupted the batsmen’s concentration but even then I doubt if it would have affected the result. The truth of the matter is that Jersey rely solely on Middleton for their wicket taking, while Guernsey, although they have a match-winner in Dobson, do have other bowlers who can take wickets, including two spinners – a type of bowler rarely seen in Jersey. It was a little surprising that none of the Jersey batsmen, particularly the tail-enders, tried to hit out at Barrett and Ralph Anthony, but if they do not experience spin bowling in their domestic competition they are probably uncertain as to what they are supposed to do.
Neither Barrett nor Anthony turned the ball greatly, but Barrett bowled 18 overs unchanged from the top end for just 32 runs, while Anthony’s 10 overs of left-arm bowling from the pavilion end cost just nine runs. Each picked up two wickets. Poor Stephen Blampied never came to terms with the slow bowling. He may have been playing to orders just to survive, but runs were just as important to Jersey at that stage, and his innings would have done Chris Tavare proud.
Captaincy obviously played its part in the game with Ricky Mills’ field placings frustrating the Jersey batsmen on many occasions, although he received good support from his team, while Jersey’s Walls found his fielders prone to error. Anthony, Neil Hunter, substitute fielder Rob Batiste and skipper Mills made fine stops, but all of the Guernsey team deserve praise for their keen work in the field. The same can be said for their running between the wickets. Jersey were content to amble runs, while the Guernsey batsmen were looking for quick singles and turning ones into twos from the start. It makes it that much easier for a fielder if he knows that a batsman is not going to try for a quick single.
I feel that Walls and his team may have been psyched out of the game by Mills’ decision to put them in after winning the toss. Certainly, the Guernsey bowlers would have had the advantage of any dampness in the wicket, but the general opinion was that the pitch did not play any tricks on the Jersey batsmen.
Jersey can be thankful that the unfortunate Andy Creed was able to bowl only two overs before having to retire with a pulled thigh muscle. The big fast bowler made a sad sight walking round the ground watching bowling partner Dobson pick up the wickets. ‘I would have loved to have bowled on that track’ he said, ‘it was almost as hard as KGV and would have suited me’
After the presentation of the trophy, the man-of-the-match award and to the umpires, Mr Eric Waldron, the secretary of the Guernsey Cricket Council, thanked the Jersey cricket authorities for their hospitality and Haig Whisky for their sponsorship of the match.