Isle of Man cricket team

The Isle of Man national cricket team is the team that represents the Crown dependency of the Isle of Man in international cricket. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2004[3] and an associate member in 2017.[1]

Isle of Man
Isle of Man Cricket Logo
Personnel
CaptainMatthew Ansell
CoachGreig Wright
International Cricket Council
ICC statusAssociate member[1] (2017)
ICC regionEurope
ICC Rankings Current [2] Best-ever
T20I 70th 65th (2-May-2019)
International cricket
First international14 August 2005 v Greece at Mechelen Cricket Club, Belgium
As of 22 February 2020

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between the Isle of Man and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 are full T20I.[4]

International competition

Since joining the ICC in 2004 the Isle of Man have the following record in official tournaments:

  • 2005: European Division Three – 8th place
  • 2007: European Division Three – 3rd place
  • 2009: European Division Three – 2nd place
  • 2011: European Division Two – 3rd place
  • 2012: European Division Two – Winners
  • 2013: European Division One – 9th place
  • 2014: European Division Two – 5th place

Four Islands tournament

The Island participated in the Four Islands Tournament with Guernsey, Isle of Wight & Jersey in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Their most successful of which was in 2000 when they beat Jersey and finished as runners up to Guernsey in the final.

  • 2000 – 2nd
  • 2002 – 3rd
  • 2004 – 2nd

Early ICC Era

The Manx cricket team, based in the Isle of Man, joined the ICC in 2004, playing their first ICC affiliated competitions in 2005. Previously the national sides had played fixtures against the MCC, on tour in the UK and against touring sides to the Isle of Man.

The first international engagement for the Isle of Man came in 2005 at the European Affiliates Championship. The side was captained by Rob Webber, with the management team of Dougie Hind and Colin Jones. They finished in eighth place in this tournament, which originally meant a demotion to Division Four in the newly expanded five division European Championship.

However, when the divisions were announced, the Isle of Man had a place in Division Three for 2007. As they had a year without competitive international cricket in 2006, the Isle of Man arranged two one-day friendly matches against Spain played at La Manga Club Ground at the end of September/beginning of October, both of which they won.

In 2007 under Webber, Jones and coach Harvey Anderson, they finished third in the European Division Three, defeating Belgium, Malta (twice) & Cyprus. They were beaten by Spain in the semi-final by fewer wickets lost after a tie on runs. In the 3/4th play-off they recorded a 7 wicket win over Malta. Details on European Division Three 2007 in Belgium can be found in the European Cricket Tournaments archive –

Gareth Dawson Era

In 2008, The Isle of Man cricket association appointed Gareth Dawson, brother of former test spinner Richard, as head coach of the Isle of Man cricket team. Dawson would be responsible for all age groups ranging from the junior set ups all the way to the full Senior squad. A goal of achieving Associate status within the European Cricket Council and to reach the world cricket leagues was set.

2009 ICC European Division Three Championships (La Manga, Spain)

Dawson took his first Isle of Man senior team to La Manga (Spain) to participate in the European Division Three Championships. The team was :-

  • Richard Kniveton (Captain) (Crosby)
  • Nick Hawke (St Johns)
  • Greg Hawke (St Johns)
  • Christopher Hawke (St Johns)
  • Daniel Hawke (St Johns)
  • Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
  • Jonathan Norrington (St Johns)
  • Gareth Roome (Castletown)
  • Alex Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Arne Van Den Berg (St Johns)
  • Robert Webber (Ramsey)
  • Oliver Webster (Ramsey)
  • Mark Williams (Castletown)

The team finished second, losing out to Israel. Oliver Webster finished as the island's leading run scorer with 123 runs in five games at an average of 24.60. The island's top wicket taker was Max Stokoe with 10 wickets from five games.

2011 ICC European Division Two European Championships (Belgium)

In 2011, Dawson coached the senior team to a second tournament, the European Division 2 championships in Belgium. The squad was :-

  • Richard Kniveton (Captain) (Crosby)
  • Seb Aycock (Castletown)
  • Ross Berry (Crosby)
  • Christopher Hawke (St Johns)
  • Daniel Hawke (Cronkbourne)
  • Jaco Jansen (St Johns)
  • Shaun Kelly (Ramsey)
  • Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
  • Peter Lewis (Peel)
  • Gareth Morris (Castletown)
  • Gareth Roome (Castletown)
  • Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Arne Van Den Berg (St Johns)
  • Oliver Webster (Ramsey)

The Manx senior squad were favourites to progress through to Division one and topped their group with a series of victories. They eventually lost to Austria, having at one point been 10/7, and finished third in the tournament. Gareth Morris ended up the leading batsman in the tournament, amassing 289 runs in 6 games including 141 not out against Cyprus. The island's leading wicket taker was Arne Van Den Berg, who took 12 wickets in 6 games.

2012 ICC European Division Two Championships (Corfu, Greece)

In 2012, dawson coached the senior team to a third tournament, the European Division 2 championships in Corfu, Greece. This time he was assisted by Andrew Parkin Coates. The squad was :-

  • Richard Kniveton (Captain) (Crosby)
  • Gareth Dawson(Unattached)
  • Greg Hawke (St Johns)
  • Daniel Hawke (Grappenhall)
  • Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
  • Phil Littlejohns (Peel)
  • Russell Miller (Peel)
  • Gareth Morris (Castletown)
  • Gareth Roome (Castletown)
  • Alex Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Arne Van Den Berg (St Johns)
  • Oliver Webster (Ramsey)
  • Mark Williams (Castletown)

The Isle of Man won the ICC European Division Two (T20) tournament in Corfu, earning promotion to Division One in 2013. Gareth Morris was their leading batsman, scoring 275 runs at an average of 39.29, which included three fifties. Arne van den Berg was their leading wicket taker, capturing 11 at just 9.00 apiece, with three of their bowlers featuring in the top five economy rates for the tournament – Van Den Berg (2nd), Dan Hawke (3rd) and Max Stokoe (5th).

2013 ICC European Division One Championships (Sussex, England)

In 2013, Dawson coached the senior team to a fourth tournament, the European Division 1 championships in Sussex, England. Barry Smith was team manager, Andrew Parkin Coates returned as assistant coach.

The squad was:-

  • Luke Lacey (Captain) (Cronkbourne)
  • Matthew Ansell (Cronkbourne)
  • Daniel Hawke (Peel and St Johns)
  • Christopher Hawke (Peel and St Johns)
  • Jaco Jansen (Cronkbourne)
  • Philip Littlejohns (Peel and St Johns)
  • Adam McAuley (Cronkbourne)
  • Garreth Roome (Castletown)
  • Alexander Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Arne van den Berg (Peel and St Johns)
  • Carl Wagstaffe (Cronkbourne)
  • Oliver Webster (Peel)
  • Mark Williams (Castletown)

The island lost their first two games, by 7 wickets against Denmark and by 20 runs against France. They then beat Germany by 5 runs and Belgium by 5 wickets. A 38-run defeat Jersey led to a 5th-place finish in their group and a place in the 9th–10th place playoff match against Gibraltar, which the Isle of Man won to finish in 9th place.

2014 ICC European Division Two Championships (Essex, England)

In 2014, the island enlisted Phil Unsworth as their new coach, after Dawson decided to take up the role of Gibraltar coach. Unsworth led the team to the European Division 2 championships in Essex, England. Colin Jones took the role of team manager.

The squad was:-

  • Philip Littlejohns (Captain) (Peel and St Johns)
  • Christopher Hawke (Peel and St Johns)
  • Greg Hawke (Peel and St Johns)
  • Sam Kebbel (Cronkbourne)
  • Adam Killey (Cronkbourne)
  • Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
  • Luke Lacey (Cronkbourne)
  • Adam McAuley (Cronkbourne)
  • Alexander Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
  • Arne van den Berg (Peel and St Johns)
  • Gareth Morris (Castletown)
  • Oliver Webster (Peel and St Johns)
  • Wicus Wessels (Castletown)

The island's first game was against Norway, in what was the first encounter between the two teams. The Isle of Man batted first and under the lights on a damp and humid evening scored a below par 116. Luke Lacey top scoring with 23. In response Norway reached the target with four balls to spare with 40-year-old opener Zaheer Ashiq leading the way, striking two clean sixes in an innings of 33.

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References
  1. "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
  4. "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
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