The ICC World Cricket League returns to Jersey for the first time since the memorable 2008 Division Five tournament as Division Six gets underway on Sunday. Six teams will battle it out for promotion to Division Five, with hosts Jersey being joined by Argentina, Bahrain, Kuwait, Nigeria and Vanuatu.
The hosts will be hoping to bounce back from a narrow loss to Italy in the semi-final of the ICC Europe Division One Twenty20 championship. They field much the same squad as for that tournament, with Corey Bisson coming into the squad instead of Paul McCafferty the only change. Ben Stevens finished fifth in the MVP ranking for that tournament, taking 10 wickets at 12.8, and is likely to play a key role for Jersey again in WCL6.
Argentina will be hoping to put an end to what is possibly one of the longest losing streaks in international sport by avoiding a fifth consecutive relegation and putting an end to a 25 match spell without a win in the World Cricket League. They make a number of changes from the side that finished fourth in the Americas Division Two tournament in the Bahamas earlier this year, with long time captain Estaban "Billy" Macdermott likely to be their key player if they are to end their poor run.
Bahrain were the other team relegated from the last Division Five tournament in 2012, and went without a win in the ACC Twenty20 Cup earlier this year. They've made wholesale changes to their squad since that tournament, with only three players remaining in their side as they look to remain in the World Cricket League structure, with Division Six now being the lowest division.
Kuwait come into the tournament having finished third in their group at the ACC Twenty20 Cup earlier this year. They only retain four players from their squad for that tournament, including captain Hirsham Mirza, who was their leading wicket-taker in that event, making him a key player for them this time round.
Nigeria are one of the two teams promoted from Division 7 in Botswana in April, and they unsurprisingly field much of the same squad for Division 6. Oladotun Olatunji scored two centuries for the Nigerians in that tournament, finishing as leading run scorer, and they will look to him to lead their batting in Jersey.
Vanuatu are the other promoted team, and likewise retain much of the same squad. Patrick Matautaava finished in the top ten run scorers and top ten wicket takers in Botswana, and Vanuatu will look to his all-round ability as they seek a third consecutive promotion.
The tournament will be held on four grounds in Jersey - Grainville, FB Fields, Les Quennevais and Farmers Field. The final will be at Grainville on Sunday 28 July. The two finalists will be promoted to Division Five to be held at a venue still to be confirmed next year.