Guernsey set for 'massive' T20 World Cup qualifier

Guernsey reached the final stage of qualifying for the first time after winning their European sub-regional qualifier last summer

"It's very surreal when I read articles and hear people tell me we're four games away from the World Cup proper," Guernsey Cricket manager Rob Thomson admits.

The Channel Island side are preparing for their first-ever appearance in the final round of qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

They will travel to the Netherlands next month for Europe's regional final, a round-robin tournament against the hosts, Scotland, Italy and Channel Island rivals Jersey - with the top two sides progressing to next year's showpiece in India and Sri Lanka.

Ranked 37th in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, Guernsey are behind 32nd-placed Italy, 28th-placed Jersey and favourites Scotland and the Netherlands, who are rated 13th and 14th respectively.

"I think you have to recognise the step up for our lads in particular is huge," Thomson, whose side qualified for the tournament after winning their sub-regional qualifier last summer, told BBC Sport.

"We're the lowest ranked side of the five in the competition, so that tells its own story. The gap between the sub-regional qualification process that we went through last year to this stage is massive.

"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.

"So it's a massive step up, but T20, as everyone knows, is a leveller."

Matt Stokes, one of Guernsey's most experienced players, has scored 255 runs in 11 games over the past year

Despite not having any professionals in their ranks, the Guernsey side - drawn up from the island's approximate 60,000 population - know they can beat sides at this level.

They recently defeated Jersey and could have beaten them for a second time but for a dramatic final over in which Guernsey fell narrowly short in their run chase.

Guernsey also defeated Denmark - who regularly reach this stage of the competition - last summer on their way to qualification.

And unlike some other nations, the island's small size geographically helps them come together - they train with each other every week and have an almost club-like bond.

"We play a lot of cricket together in the green shirt and it's definitely a massive strength for us and something in our favour," Thomson says.

"Watching the lads, certainly the weekend before last when we were in Jersey, it's so noticeable how fluid it is when they're out there on the field in terms of the guys knowing where they're fielding, they know what the plans are for each bowler.

"(Captain) Ollie (Nightingale) has that all set up so perfectly - they walk out from off the boundary on to the pitch and it just looks very, very cohesive, which is no small feat."

Eighteen-year-old bowler Charlie Forshaw took 12 wickets as Guernsey won their qualifying tournament last summer

And while Guernsey may lack players at the top level, they do have a lot of international experience - Nightingale, Ben Ferbrache, Matt Stokes, Josh Butler and Zak Damarell have been part of the island side for many years, playing all around the world.

Added to that experience are promising new faces such as teenage bowlers Charlie Forshaw and Harry Johnson as Guernsey bid to cause an upset and reach the finals.

"T20 cricket, you get a few things in your favour, you win a good toss, you never know, so we go there with eyes open," Thomson says.

"It's a massive challenge, but I know the lads are really looking forward to it, to putting their skills on display at that top table and at a level that we've never played at before.

"If we come back with a win or two, we'll have certainly had a fantastic week."