MATHEW HAGUE fended off the jibes about The Ashes with all the ease with which he deals with most of the bowling he encounters in Jersey cricket.

As the only Australian plying his trade on the cricket pitch he was always likely to face the odd bouncer as England supporters were able to let off the steam built up during the 16-year absence of the little urn.

But none of it fazed Hague.

In fact he appeared more uncomfortable dealing with the congratulations and compliments heading his way at the NatWest Cricketer of the Year Awards Dinner.

Cricketer of the Year four times in the last five years and five times out of seven since he arrived in Jersey, his reaction to receiving the trophy was as understated as usual.

‘You don’t set out at the start of the season to win the Player of the Year Award, you are hoping for team success.’ As the newly appointed skipper of the Island side, Hague’s appetite for the game has been rekindled by the knowledge that next year Jersey’s season won’t revolve around one match against Guernsey in August, but rather a series of matches against unknown opponents from the likes of Gibraltar, France, Germany and Israel.

‘With the ICC next year and a couple of tournaments and not just one game against Guernsey it will be fantastic.

It’s given the game a real buzz and added something extra to the season.

‘It is bit of an unknown, something we have not played in before.

It is exciting and it will be good to play against new and good cricketers you have not played before and on different grounds in other countries.’ Past winters have meant putting the cricket bag away and getting out the golf bag, but Hague believes the odd round of golf will not be enough this time.

‘In the past I have not done a lot over the winter but I am sure it will be a bit more serious and we will be doing something over the winter and certainly starting nets earlier.

‘The tournament is early in the season, in July, so we want to make sure we have found some form by then,’ he said.

Island selector Ward Jenner confirmed that a programme was being put in place to ensure Jersey’s players are fully prepared for next season.

‘Our plans are complicated a little because a number of our squad members are at university, but a schedule is being put together for the remainder,’ Jenner said.

‘This year we had regular net sessions from February to April.

This winter I would imagine we will give the players a break until Christmas, then we will name a squad – which will be flexible – and get them together while everyone is back from university.

Advantage ‘We will make it clear to those going back to university that they should take advantage of whatever facilities are available to them for cricket over the winter, while those based in Jersey will be getting together regularly from January.’