Kirsten in Jersey drive

Peter Kirsten played 12 Tests for South Africa

While the eyes of the cricketing world will be on Gary Kirsten next week and whether he can lead India to a home Test series triumph over Australia, for the rest of the Kirsten family their dreams are more focused at the other end of the international cricket spectrum.

This weekend Peter Kirsten will try and help Jersey try and take the next step on the road to qualification for the ICC World Cup in 2011.

Jersey will be joined by Afghanistan, Fiji, Hong Kong, Italy and hosts Tanzania for the ICC World Cricket league Division 4, which involves 18 matches over eight days.

If Peter and his players can take that next step it would take them closer to a potential meeting with Kenya - coached by brother Andy Kirsten - in the ICC World Cup qualifier in April next year.

Although it is a distant dream, Peter admits it would be very special if India, Jersey and Kenya all made it to the World Cup one day, with the brothers in charge of the respective teams.

“That would be amazing – it would be something of a record,” he said.

“Andy coaches Kenya, who has played in World Cup competitions before, but for us there is a very long way to go. To get through this Division 4 tournament we’re going to have to play some very good cricket.”

For that to happen, Jersey will have to finish in the top two of the six teams in action in Africa. That will send it to the Division 3 event in January 2009 which will be one step from the 12-team qualifier.

Four sides will make it from there to the World Cup, with a dream of repeating the exploits of Ireland at the 2007 event.

While his focus will very much be on helping Jersey through this tournament, Peter will also have one eye on the challenges that await Gary in India in the coming month.

Jersey will have hopes of emulating fellow minnow Ireland's feat at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies

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“It is a big series for him. He hasn’t won a Test series for India yet,” he said.

“They drew with South Africa and they lost the Test series in Sri Lanka, although they took the one day series, but knowing him like I do, I know he would like to have a good series win at home.

“It is whether Gary can combine the younger players with the older players in the Test arena is his biggest challenge.

“They (India) have a class top six and if they get them working I can see the series going India’s way.”

Peter admits that the brothers face very different challenges in their work with their respective national sides, but claims to already have one over his younger brother Gary.

“He might be preparing to take on the might of Australia, but he hasn’t got any victories against USA, Singapore and Guernsey,” joked Peter, who has already helped Jersey to the ICC European Championships Division 2 title.

“We always compare notes when we speak. Gary had a great Test career and he has age on his side. It is a fabulous opportunity for him coaching India.

“It is a hugely different level of cricket but the basics remain the same – you’re still batting, bowling and fielding.”

Kirsten only became involved in Jersey cricket last year, following a speculative e-mail.

“I basically wanted to go and coach out of South Africa and to gain a bit more experience,” he said.

India coach Gary Kirsten compares notes with his brothers on taking charge of international sides

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“I’d been coaching in South Africa for the past 10-11 years so I studied quite a few websites and was pretty impressed by the structures that appeared to be present in Jersey. I asked around a few of my friends and got a good report.

“They were on a drive to go further in world cricket and up to this stage things have gone really well for us. I thoroughly enjoy coaching Jersey.”

Kirsten believes much of his work has been focused on improving the intensity of training at this level of the game and the players, who all have full-time jobs away from cricket, have responded brilliantly to his enthusiasm and passion for coaching.

Sam Dewhurst, a 21-year-old leg-spin bowler, believes that Kirsten has had a massive impact on him and his team-mates.

“I think it’s huge that somebody of his calibre wants to help a developing cricket nation,” he said. “It is massive for us.

“He brings a lot of experience from his playing days and passes that onto each of the players.

“He speaks to different players in different ways and he’s very good at man-management. He knows what he wants and he knows how to deliver that.”

The tournament begins on Saturday October 4 with Jersey playing Tanzania, while Hong Kong face Italy, and Fiji take on Afghanistan, with the latter beating Jersey to the Division 5 title earlier this year.

The final takes place on October 11.