Voice of Commonwealth

The bat and ball returns this summer!

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Sports has been the reason for countries to build relationships and for communities to grow. Sports has created a space for people to thrive and concentrate their energy on something that is fulfilling. There have been long standing sports rivalries in cricket. England and Australia for the Ashes. India versus Pakistan. Or the United States against Canada in international cricket’s oldest rivalry. These are among the most famous contests in our sport, but in the English Channel the big one is the annual Inter-Insular contest between Jersey and Guernsey.

There was a break in the yearly tournament because of Covid 19 but there is to be a return in the summer of 2021. Farmers’ Field in Jersey will host a three-match women’s Twenty20 International series on 24–25 July. This will be followed by the traditional annual men’s 50-over contest on 21 August. No men’s T20Is are currently scheduled, but further matches may be arranged depending on Jersey’s other international commitments. They are currently due to host a Challenge League event in September.

There is always a history and a tradition when it comes to these sports rivalries and the Inter – Insular has its own. Traditionally two of the stronger Associate sides in Europe, both featured regularly in the now defunct World Cricket League. The cricketing rivalry between the two Channel Islands predates all of that, going back more than a century.

The very First Inter – Insular was between sides representing the whole of Jersey and Guernsey. Rather than clubs such as the Guernsey and Jersey Island Cricket Clubs. This was only for men’s teams to take part in until 0yearsago and the women’s match was played.

Jersey had in the 90’s enjoyed a long run of dominance as they won the match 10 years in a row. But the end of this run was the beg8ingingof a magical spell of wins for Guernsey as they managed to get 5 consecutive wins. The most memorable win being when Guernsey beat Jersey in 2011 by 147 runs.

There format has been the usual 50 over format but in the past 3 years a T20 format has been introduced. In 2018 the traditional one day format was replaced by e games of T20 series. The introduction series was won by Jersey in 2018 3-0. This same format was maintained in 2019 as it was a crowd pleaser and there was more to look forward to. It was for the first time played as official T20 Internationals following the ICC’s welcome introduction of global T20I status. The women’s teams played a single T20I to get the festival of cricket underway, with Guernsey claiming the early bragging rights.

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