INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council inspectors had nothing but praise for the Island following their three-day visit to Jersey this week.

As reported yesterday, there are no specific areas of concern which is great news for the Jersey Cricket Board.

Matthew Kennedy, the ICC’s Global development manager, and Namibia’s Laurie Peters, a member of the ICC chief executive committee, completed their inspection visit as the JCB continue with their application to move from affiliate to associate membership.

The move would open the door for funding and international competition in a wide range of age groups.

Kennedy said: ‘We have been blown away by the facilities in Jersey, you have some wonderful facilities here and we will be reporting that.

‘Our role is to provide a report for the 32 associate members for them to discuss the information and it is up to them to make the recommendation to the annual conference in June.

‘From what Laurie and I have seen we certainly believe there are no significant areas of concern in Jersey and that is what our report will say.

‘Your players have already put in a fantastic effort by winning two matches away to Italy.

‘They had a job at hand, they knew what they had to do and they did it well.

‘One of the most important things in cricket development is not just on-field teams but off-field teams too – and you certainly seem to have an off-team with a great band of administrators who have good plans and good strategy.

‘The next step for Jersey is the ICC development meeting in Dubai on 6 and 7 May.

That meeting comprises one representative from each the five regions – Europe, East Asia Pacific, Africa, the Americas and Asia.

‘They will consider our report and take forward their thoughts on whether all the criteria has been ticked to the executive board meeting in June.

‘The executive board are ten Test playing nations plus three representatives from the associates.

One or two days after that meeting it goes to the annual conference and to be approved Jersey would require a 75 per cent vote.’ Kennedy added: ‘Jersey’s structure looks good.

The majority of the indoor and outdoor facilities include a couple of cricket nets, grass roots are exposing the game to boys and girls – yes the structure is impressive, it is clearly evident there is a good blend here.’ Jersey are hosting a European Cricket Council under-19 tournament in Jersey this summer.

Kennedy said: ‘Not many affiliates that have come on within two years can put their hand up to host a nine-team tournament and mainly all of those are on tour as well.

‘That will certainly focus the cricketing world, certainly in Europe, on Jersey and supporters will be logging on to web sites to see what is happening here.’ Pieters, who has been involved in Namibian cricket for 50 years, said: ‘I am really surprised because the facilities here are outstanding, I can’t fault them and you have so many of them! ‘Indoor and outdoor and the pitches are wonderful, Jersey cricket is privileged to have such wonderful facilities.

There is also a great enthusiasm from the people working in cricket; their dedication is an eye-opener.

‘A very good structure is in place and if Jersey is now accepted as an associate member they will develop those structures even further and it would be to the benefit of the Jersey Cricket Board and, of course, it’s players.

‘Namibia played in Guernsey two years ago and it would be great for them to visit the Channel Islands again and maybe play both islands.

A tour here would be an ideal opportunity for our senior team or our U19 or U18 players.

‘There is nothing negative about this inspection.

There are one or two little things that would need attending too but I’m very positive about the inspection, and, hopefully, by the end of June Jersey could and may be an ICC associate member.’ JCB chairman Keith Dennis said: ‘Both officials are astounded by the facilities we have.

‘When we’ve arrived at venues they’ve said “Another indoor centre!” ‘Yes we are delighted with their reactions but I am not surprised.

I’ve been all over the world playing and managing cricket teams and there is nothing to match what Jersey has in Japan, France, the Americas, Kenya or the west coast of Africa.’