JERSEY CRICKET continues to go from strength to strength and in no small thanks to a continuous line of talented young players coming to the fore.
One such player who consolidated his precociousness last year was Asa Tribe, who is one of four shortlisted nominees for the Rising Star prize at the 2022 CI Sports Awards.
Tribe, who turned 18 in March last year, has become a big-hitting batsman of some repute – and a worthy off-break bowler too – and his devastating performances have already won him Jersey’s 2022 Cricketer of the Year award.
His domestic season featured 506 runs and ten wickets, but it was his exploits for the national team that has garnered the most attention. He missed the second round of ICC World Cup Challenge League B in Uganda because of A-Level exams but his performances in the third round of matches, in Jersey, were enough to see him named Player of the Series. That included scoring century against Bermuda.
‘I’m extremely happy with how the year went for me and it’s nice to get the recognition for that,’ said Tribe.
‘When Jersey did so well in Uganda, winning five from five, I knew I had to step up my game to get into the team. Playing in the warm-up matches in Namibia [before the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe] made a big difference when I went out there and I got 70 and 60 in the first two just to stake my claim.
‘I knew everyone was performing at their best level, so if I was going to get a chance I had to do well.’
Despite now being based in Cardiff, at university, Tribe has made himself available for the next stage of the ICC World Cup, back in Namibia for the Qualifier Play-off in March.
He and the team will undoubtedly go there full of confidence.
‘I am always confident. I think you have to be when you go into these tournaments,’ he added.
‘It’s certainly a step up but but we know we’re ready for it.’
After that, Tribe is hoping to make a name for himself for his university team in matches that could lead to him playing for a county seconds team.
‘There’ll be some games against some “twos” county sides and first-team fixtures and if I do well there’s a good chance for me to be looked at,’ he explained. ‘It’s all about getting your name out there and being in the right area.’
