Jersey boss aims to boost players' English exposure

Asa Tribe (left) and Nick Greenwood are Jersey's two professional players with first class sides

Jersey head coach Paul Hutchison hopes he can increase the number of players in his island squad competing in England.

The former Yorkshire, Sussex and Middlesex player took over the island side in March.

He takes charge at his first tournament next month as Jersey travel to Germany in the first round of qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

"To get our players as much exposure to as high a level as we can is absolutely paramount for what we want to achieve," Hutchison told BBC Sport.

"So if that means that they've got to go off the island to do it, then so be it.

"We want to give them the best cricket possible that should speed up their learning process so when we all come back together we get a stronger group of players.

"What it does do is give us a small headache in logistics that if I want to go and see some of the players, I'm running around the country a little bit instead of just historically being on the island.

"But if my only concern is that I've got to jump in a car and do a few hours driving to see these boys, then things are going OK."

Jersey batter Asa Tribe is on the books of Glamorgan while Nick Greenwood is a professional with New Zealand side Wellington.

Bowler Julius Sumerauer has played second XI cricket for Leicestershire this season while Ben Ward has played for South African side Boland.

Also gaining exposure in England have been Josh Lawrenson and Patrick Gouge at Durham University, while Jonty Jenner is averaging almost 49 and has a top score of 146 for Sussex Premier League leaders Preston Nomads this season.

"I'd be more concerned if I was scratching around looking for somebody who can find me some runs," added Hutchison.

"Between myself, the assistant batting coach Matthew Ward and the women's head coach Darren Thomas, I think we know pretty much every county coach in the country.

"We're actively talking to counties about our players to see if they can get them some exposure."