How Jersey's World Cup dream is being forged down under

Zak Tribe was Jersey's top run-scorer as they topped ICC Challenge League A last month

"I think in any sport trying to get to the pinnacle of it - us being in the World Cup - is something that we all aspire to, and everyone's willing to put in the graft behind the scenes to get there," says Jersey batter Zak Tribe.

The 23-year-old is one of seven Jersey cricketers playing in the southern hemisphere this winter as they aim to make a World Cup.

Despite having one of the smallest populations of any international cricketing nation, the Channel Island side punches well above its weight.

Jersey will play in the final round of qualifying for the T20 World Cup for the fifth successive time next year, while in 2023 they achieved ODI status after winning the ICC Challenge League and making the next round of 50-over World Cup qualifying.

Tribe is embarking on a first overseas winter at Geelong-based East Belmont CC.

The older brother of young Glamorgan player Asa, he spent last summer playing in Norfolk as he tried to secure chances at Second XI or minor county level.

He spends his mornings working in a local warehouse and afternoons playing cricket, coaching and training.

"Although not professional myself, it's the kind of commitment that a professional player would have to make in order to follow their dream," he explains to BBC Sport.

"I'm still young at this stage of my life, so I have the ability to kind of go where I want to try and improve my game and try and reach that end goal of becoming professional, or getting as far as I can with Jersey.

"Those commitments will hopefully all be worth it, but obviously it's a lot of time away from home and my mum and dad get a bit sad on the phone when you chat to them.

"But it's all for the right cause and I'm thoroughly enjoying it."

Competing with the professionals

Harrison Carlyon became the first Jersey batter to hit a century in a T20 international in July when he hit 110 off 57 balls in a win over Serbia

"A lot of the teams we play now are full-time professionals," says all-rounder Harrison Carlyon.

The 23-year-old made his Jersey debut as a 15-year-old and is about to embark on his ninth season with the island side.

In that time he has seen the professionalism of the set-up increase, and this winter is playing club cricket in Melbourne for Cranbourne CC - something that is key for him if he is to help Jersey make the next step and reach a major tournament finals.

"A lot of the teams we play now are full-time professionals," he explains to BBC Sport.

"That's something we'd love to get to as a country and somewhere maybe we should be soon hopefully - in my eyes we should, but that's a money thing.

"Those sides have guys playing all year round, they're travelling, they're playing series, they're training, whereas if we were to be at home in the winter then maybe from the end of November through to January I might not touch a cricket bat for two and a half months because we'll take a bit of time off after a busy season.

"So in that sense being out here is great as well, not having that gap and having to pick things up."

Returning more 'mature and rounded'

Jersey are top of ICC Challenge League A after winning four of their five matches in Kenya last month

Alongside Tribe and Carlyon Jersey's star overseas man is Nick Greenwood.

Born on the island, his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was a toddler and he now plays first-class cricket for Wellington.

Joining him in New Zealand is pace bowler Julius Sumerauer, who has also had a taste of English Second XI cricket with Leicestershire over the summer.

In Australia, Patrick Gouge and Josh Lawrenson are embarking on their first summers down under, while Jersey's South Africa-based all-rounder Ben Ward is also in winter action.

"If you look at the development of a young professional cricketer in England, I'd say 90% of them go away overseas during the winter to further their development and get two seasons out of 12 months rather than one," says Jersey's director of cricket Paul Hutchison.

"So if we can start to put that mindset into our players it can only be of benefit.

"They not only get the cricketing skills from being in a different environment, but 99 times out of 100 come back a more mature, rounded person as well, which is great for the dressing room if you're getting more leaders," adds the former Yorkshire and Middlesex player.

It all leads to that dream of making a World Cup.

Jersey will face Scotland, Netherlands, Italy and neighbours Guernsey next summer for a place in the T20 World Cup finals in India and Sri Lanka in 2026.

The top two from the group will progress, with Jersey having come fourth in qualifying in 2023 and been one win off making the knockout stages of the global qualifying tournament a year earlier.

"Playing against those kind of sides - Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands - it's the games that you want to be part of as a player," says Tribe.

"We have come very close to beating the likes of Scotland in the past and we know as a side we're not far off it, so we always step out onto that field expecting to kind of come off it with a win in our hands.

"It's those games that you gear up for over the winter, you do all your pre-season work for, so hopefully you can go out there and perform at the best you can on the day."

"These world tournaments are so brutal now," adds Carlyon.

"All these other sides are getting better and finding players and just getting stronger and stronger.

"In Jersey that's different. The core squad of players are all from Jersey and all homegrown players, so we have to work hard and be professional and to compete with these sides."