Guernsey’s cricket team is preparing for the trip of a lifetime! Unlike the more established Canada, they’re still warming up to their first-final-qualifying-for-a-2026-T20-World-Cup act. Next month, that same team will travel to the Netherlands to compete in the European regional final. Their hardest opposition in this group will likely come from Scotland, Italy and their arch rivals from Jersey. The first two teams advancing from this stage will secure their places in next year’s World Cup. Get ready friends, it’s going to be a stellar World Cup in India and Sri Lanka!
Looking ahead Additionally, Kristian, Rob Thomson, Guernsey’s cricket manager, admits there will be stiff competition to come. He acknowledges that the jump in quality from their last matches to this tier is a big one. Guernsey, who earlier this month pulled off a remarkable comprehensive victory over Jersey, came very close to beating their bigger rivals again in their last match.
“It’s very surreal when I read articles and hear people tell me we’re four games away from the World Cup proper,” Thomson stated.
Guernsey is currently ranked 37th in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. It lags not just Italy at 32nd, Jersey at 28th and the front runners: Scotland at 13th and Netherlands at 14th. Even with that ranking, Thomson is hopeful about his unit’s possibilities. Most importantly, he addresses the difference between what they are used to encountering and what they are going to see in the next few games.
I think you’d have to acknowledge the jump up for our guys in particular is massive,” he said. We’re the least favoured side of the five in the competition according to rankings, so that sort of tells its own story. The chasm between that sub-regional qualification process that we traveled through last year to this current step is gargantuan.
The Guernsey team is the perfect mix between vibrant new blood and experienced cricketers. None of its cast members were professional players, which only adds to the impressive teamwork. Key figures such as Charlie Forshaw, Harry Johnson, Nightingale, Ben Ferbrache, Matt Stokes, Josh Butler, Zak Damarell add depth to a very strong squad. On the field, this team wonderfully complements the exuberance of youth with the discipline of experience.
Thomson detailed what made it difficult to go up against teams full of players that had previously played professionally. “You’re going from playing on artificial wickets against lower-ranked European nations to playing on grass against at least two, you could argue three, maybe three-and-a-half professional sides,” he explained. “So it’s a massive step up, but T20, as everyone knows, is a leveller.”
Guernsey’s path to get to this point hasn’t been easy. They earned their way to the tournament by winning last summer’s sub-regional qualifier. A highlight of that journey was their thrilling win against Denmark, a team that is often a regular in deep stages of competition. This major accomplishment has generated a lot of energy in the small island nation, known for its idyllic beaches and a population under 60,000.
Thomson is positive about the team’s future. “T20 cricket, you get a few things in your favour; you win a good toss—you never know,” he remarked. “So we go there with eyes open. Either way, if we return home with a victory (or two) under our belt, we will have undoubtedly enjoyed an amazing week.
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