Jersey star playing with David Warner in Caribbean

Jonty JennerImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jonty Jenner batting for Jersey against Nepal

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Jonty Jenner was trying to help Jersey reach the next stage of T20 World Cup qualifying when a social media message changed his year.

The 26-year-old batsman opened his Instagram feed and found his name alongside some of the biggest in the game in being picked to play in a new tournament.

Jenner was drafted by Boca Raton Trailblazers for the inaugural Max60 competition, a 10-over tournament in the Cayman Islands that began on Tuesday.

"It’s been a whirlwind few weeks. We were in Germany with Jersey and I had a look on Instagram and found out that I’d been picked up," he told BBC Radio Jersey.

Last month, at the T20 World Cup sub regional Europe qualifier, Jenner and his team-mates would have gained few headlines.

Now he is walking out alongside Australian great David Warner, West Indies international Evin Lewis and New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme.

Jenner was picked in the draft from a group of players from countries with non-Test status.

"You get here and you’re not too sure if you’re going to get on with the guys," he said.

"The hotel is amazing and we’ve been to the beach bar a couple of times to get to know each other a bit better.

"Everyone has made me feel really welcome and hopefully I can show the world what I can do and more importantly put Jersey on the map as well."

'Strange how it goes'

Jenner scored 98 runs in four matches to help Jersey win the T20 World Cup qualifier in Germany and returned home hoping to help his club, Preston Nomads, secure the Sussex Premier League title.

But he is now playing in a tournament with global TV coverage and a chance to revive his dream as a professional.

Jenner played age group and second XI cricket for Sussex but only made one appearance for the first team, against South Africa A in 2017.

"It’s really strange how it goes sometimes in sport," he said. "You can relinquish that drive to reach right to the top and then you relax a bit more and enjoy your game.

"I’ve had some success in the last 18 months, so it’s funny how these things come around."

Former England batsman Alex Hales and West Indies' Dwayne Bravo are among the other players in the competition.

Such is the nature of franchise cricket that one good tournament can open many doors.

"It’s 10 overs so the game happens pretty quickly," Jenner said. "You go out there and just have to smash it from ball one, there’s not much time to think about it.

"It’s about making a good impression and then suddenly you could be travelling the world playing cricket and what a dream that would be."

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