Hague announces retirement

Matt Hague, the Jersey captain whose side were recently relegated to Division 5 of the World Cricket League, has announced his retirement.

"I just feel I'm not quite enjoying it quite as much as I always have and I feel the time's right to step down," he told the BBC. "We've come a fair way since I've been captain so i think maybe it's time to hand over the reigns."

Hague moved to Jersey having played grade cricket in Australia, where he was born, and led the side during a period of relative success in which Jersey were promoted from Affiliate to Associate ranking by the ICC. However, they were only victorious in one out of their five matches in the recent World Cricket League Division 4 in Tanzania.

"Tanzania was an unbelievable experience, not on the result front, but fantastic to play cricket against better players in a different country.We came along a way with Peter [Kirsten] and enjoyed a lot of success. We did so well in World Division 5 and the European tournament in Guernsey and we had a lot of success."

Hague's announcement is the second blow to hit Jersey cricket in a week, following Peter Kirsten's move from Jersey to Kenya, where he will join up with his brother, Andy, as part of the coaching team. The decision came as a surprise to many, not least Hague.

"All was happy when we were winning, but when we lost a couple of games [in Tanzania] we saw a different side and I was just disappointed that he almost gave up on the team," Hague said.

"After two-and-a-half games that was all we had of Peter, so for the last few games we were pretty much doing it all ourselves. It was disappointing after doing so much together that to give up was quite sad really."