Summer: The sound of leather on willow

Summer: The sound of leather on willow

Football and rugby, for example, are virtually forgotten in July and August, but not so athletics and cricket. Both, of course, are associated with the summer months. So let us begin, first, with cricket.

At the FB Fields on Saturday I was privileged to watch a Romerils side win the NatWest Weekend Cricket league Premier Division title.

Their game against the Caesareans was very close; very tense; but they won the game, with one over to spare, and they now go on to play in NatWest CI Club championships throughout August, to decide which team, from eight, is the best in the Channel Islands.

And, at the moment, Channel Islands’ cricket is thriving. Guernsey have some cracking youngsters, as do Jersey.

And having spoken to Ward Jenner, who is heavily involved in the Island set-up, he was positively purring last weekend.

‘There are some amazing cricketers out there,’ he said. ‘You wouldn’t believe how good they are, from ten years old and upwards. And they all want to play for Jersey, and they all want to be the best cricketers in the Island.’

And one of them, teenager Ben Stevens, has already proved his worth. For although he finished on the losing side in the NatWest final, he gave the Romerils’ captain, Martin Waite, and his teammates, far more discomfort than pleasure.

‘I really didn’t enjoy playing against him,’ said the Romerils’ skipper, afterwards. ‘Already, even though he’s only a teenager, he bowls fast and accurately, and I really didn’t like playing against him. In terms of potential, he’s got a great future ahead.’

So please note that Ben Stevens is a potential Jersey or Channel Islands’ captain – watch this space!

As an observer, rather than as a journalist, there were other young players who were impressive on Saturday, including young James Perchard, who will, I have no doubt, eventually represent the Island at senior level. His bowling was such that, virtually immediately after he came on to bowl, he found a true line and length.

He will never be a 6 ft 8 in tall bowler, with the ability to bowl a ball from 10 ft down to zero. But on Saturday he impressed me by his tenacity and by the speed of his delivery. He’s a good player who, through his teenage years, can only get better.

At the moment Jersey is blessed by some very good, very young cricketers. Some of them can only get better and, when they do so, they will be of a county standard and I know that already county selectors have been ‘eyeing up’ the local talent.

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