"The boys are up there with some of the best talents in Europe," said James Duckett, captain of the Old Victorians, as they prepare for their first international competition.
The Old Victorians, a team composed of former students from Jersey's Victoria College, are gearing up to compete in the European Cricket League.
This 10-over event brings together club champions from various European nations to determine the best team in Europe.
The Old Victorians will be making their international debut, following in the footsteps of former Jersey champions Farmers, who have also participated in the tournament. The competition takes place near Malaga, Spain.
Foreign experience
Although the Old Victorians team has not played internationally, some members of their team have.
In addition to being part of Jersey's international team, which has made efforts to qualify for the 50-over and T20 world cups, several team members have already played T10 cricket at the same venue for Jersey in the European Cricket Championship last year.
The most prominent player in the team is likely Jonty Jenner, a former Sussex youth player who was once the 12th man for England and has since become one of the key players in the Jersey national team.
Other Jersey internationals include Charlie Brennan, Theo Pullman, and Elliot Corbel, who were all members of the Jersey team that made it to the final round of the tournament in October. Additionally, Duckett is the current Jersey cricketer of the year.
It should prepare them well for a tournament that may be more challenging than the cricketing reputations of the participating countries imply.
But the winter weather made training for such a tournament difficult.
The club has been limited to indoor net sessions to prepare for their group fixtures, which start on Sunday, March 3. They will be facing the champion sides from Switzerland, Portugal, Turkey, and Bulgaria. The team has been focusing on maintaining their fitness levels to compensate for the lack of outdoor practice.
The European Cricket League was established in 2018 to promote the sport throughout Europe.
In 2023, Dreux, a French team, defeated Hornchurch CC from England in the final.