Danish season preview - Peter Power reports

Peter Power's reports on the Danish season were a popular feature of this page's coverage of the 1999 European summer. Peter previews the season ahead:

"Cricket in Denmark starts this year with the first round of 'The Cup'. This is a competition that usally can give the first idea of how the top teams will be playing this year. So far there have been no surprises, but we have seen a couple of player moves which might have influence on things to come.

The Danish top league comprises of eight teams. Last season was a two horse race between Svanholm from Copenhagen who have won the championship every year since 1990 and 19 times in all, and Herning from Jutland who have yet to win the championship. In the end Svanhom won by scoring 35 runs more than Herning. It was the closest decision in history. It looks like the race continues this season. Herning have the same players while Svanholm have been reinforced by the return of Thomas Hansen from Hampshire. KB of Copenhagen were third last year, but it is uncertain whether KB have the services of fast-bowler Amjad Khan and therefore KB will find it a little more difficult in getting third place.

Skanderborg is "the dark horse" this season. They are the first club to use new regulations permitting the usage of a paid coach from outside Europe allowed to play cricket. Also Skanderborg has the new Danish keeper Fr. Klokker who has arrived from Kerteminde. Skanderborg did very well last year and they will do better this year. This they proved today when they played Herning in the first quarter-final of "The Cup" brought forward from May and only lost by 10 runs. It was a match that Skanderborg threw away after an excellent opening partnership followed by a middle-order collapse.

Esbjerg from Jutland should have a better season than last year. Former Danish player Søren Hansen has returned to the side after spending several months at sea. He is captaining a side otherwise identical to last season.

Nørrebro the Pakistani based side from Copenhagen are very unpredictable, as one never is certain who is going to play for the club. They have still not solved their main problem of finding their own ground and facilities. Their lack of training has meant they have never been really able to threaten the top teams.

Glostrup from Copenhagen have yet to recover losing several top players two years ago. Former Danish captain Peer Jensen is their playing coach. He himself is an improvising batsmen and a shrewd spinner. He can often win the match on his own. Glostrup lack otherwise a powerful bowling attack and will find life a bit hard this season. But hopefully the arrival of Henrik Hansen from Ringsted and David Christiansen from Køge wil give them more life.

Ålborg Chang from the North of Denmark are the new boys this year. Ålborg Chang will be fighting to stay up this year, but one has said that before only to be proved wrong. Chang have always had a good youth base and their young players are beginning to show through.

The Danish first division comprises 10 teams this year as we go into the last transition season, whereafter the first division will comprise of eight teams just like the Elite division. each team plays the other sides once giving nine matces to be followed up by two play-offs giving four more matches. Up to four teams can be relegated and the first Cup matches have already given us an idea to who will end up in the playoffs.

Kerteminde who did reasonably well last year have lost Fr.Klokker to Skanderborg and possibly also their main strike bowler. They have lost both their Cup matches so far and Kerteminde looks like ending up fighting relegation together with Ringsted and Køge, who also have lost key players.

Husum from North Germany are still one of the favourites together with Albertslund and Ishøj from Copenhagen. Nykøbing Mors from Jutland who were relegated last season should be a top runner this season, but their cup run indicates another story. Svanholm II will still find it hard to stay up like the last two years while newcomers Århus have a fair chance to stay up.