Former England and Wales Cricket Board development officer Chris Minty has been re-employed by the JCB under the new title.
‘Previously the role of development officer really just involved cricketers up to the age of 18.
The role of director of cricket encompasses all cricket in the Island,’ he explained.
Work supporting the development of cricket programmes in primary schools and plans to strengthen links between the secondary schools and senior cricket, with NatWest Weekend League clubs each adopting a secondary school, continues.
But Minty is now also heavily involved in the senior Island team’s preparation for its debut in the European Cricket Council Division II Championships in Glasgow in August.
An under-17 team will also take part in the ECC Division II age group championships in Israel in the same month.
ICC membership is already paying dividends on a number of levels, including, for example, the search for a new, English, Shane Warne.
The new director recently attended an ECC Coaches Conference at Warwick University with representatives of 14 European countries, followed by a two-day conference focusing on spin bowling – designed to get coaches at grass roots level looking out for a budding spin superstar.
Speakers included former England captain Nasser Hussain and Matthew Maynard, the assistant to England’s Duncan Fletcher in India.
Minty said: ‘We had talks on how to bowl spin, how to bat against it and how to keep wicket to it.
There is a dearth of good spinners in England and the ECB want to address that.’ The ICC has also provided a grant to support the women’s cricket project in the Island.
Furthermore, Jersey’s Mike Carpenter has been invited to stand as an umpire at the ECC Division III or Division II championships in Glasgow.
He and Doug Ferguson have also been invited to attend an ECC Championship umpires’ seminar in Antwerp in April.
The new director has some happy facts to illustrate the growing appeal of cricket, all year round: Over 100 young players attended courses over the Christmas holidays; Spring term courses at Langford and Les Quennevais were oversubscribed, with 144 children currently taking part; The Development of Excellence scheme, which runs at the weekends at Langford for invited cricketers aged from 7 to 15, provides more advanced coaching for 95 young players; The Langford Academy will provide coaching for the better players from each age group from under-12 and above and will involve 56 young players this term.
The senior men are preparing for the ECC Division II championship with net sessions at Langford on Sunday evenings; and the women’s group meet every Wednesday at Grainville.
For details on any of the above contact Chris Minty on 500159 or 07797 736188.
The Jersey Cricket Board was formed in September 2005 in order to meet the challenges and opportunities offered by membership of the International Cricket Council.
It aims to promote and develop the game of cricket at all levels through partnerships with all cricket bodies within he Bailiwick of Jersey.%
