Can ex-West Indies skipper Adams take Jersey to a World Cup?
Associate nations - those non-Test-playing sides - make up the bulk of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) sides, and Jersey are one of Europe's best. Despite only having a population of about 100,000 they missed out on a place at this year's T20 World Cup on net run rate as Italy went through in the Netherlands, and are one win away from making the final stages of European qualification for the 2028 event in Australia and New Zealand. "It was it was an eye-opener for me, I didn't know what to expect, and it was really a pleasant surprise on quite a few counts," explains Adams in Cyprus, where Jersey are contesting ICC 2028 T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifier A.
"Firstly it's a good bunch of lads that are very talented, also the fact that things are a little bit different at the associate level - it's refreshing to see players who, because of lack of resources, will do it themselves, whatever it is. "You don't see much of that at a professional level, and that's not a bad thing per se, it's just different, but refreshingly so. " The island side are ranked 30th in the ICC's T20 rankings and beat Scotland last year in the qualifying stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
So far in Cyprus they have brushed aside their group opponents Switzerland, France, Croatia and the hosts - they face Channel Island rivals Guernsey in Saturday's final for the chance to keep the T20 World Cup dream alive. "We've managed to get some good results up to now," says Adams - who first coached Jersey at last summer's T20 World Cup qualifier in the Netherlands before helping them in their 50-over ICC Challenge League tournament on home soil. "The lads have played well, I think they've deserved every win," Adams continued.
"Every time they've been asked questions at this level, they've been able to answer positively. "We've had good batting and bowling performances throughout the group and hopefully they can continue that form and have a good day out on Saturday as well. " Asa Tribe made his Jersey debut when he was 17 years old For an island with such a small population they are not able to draw on the diaspora of players that other countries can.
Many of their opponents have large numbers of South Asian players in their ranks, while Italy had former Australia international Joe Burns and Emilio Gay - recently called up by England - in their squad last summer thanks to Italian heritage. But they do have some talent - Jersey-born Wellington all-rounder Nick Greenwood is the only first-class player in their squad in Cyprus, although many of his team-mates play a good standard of club cricket in England. However the big name that Jersey has produced is Asa Tribe.