Jersey all-rounder Zak Tribe believes the island's cricket team is currently performing at a higher level than it has ever played before. Tribe made these comments to BBC Radio Jersey following Jersey's victory in the Cricket World Cup Challenge League A last week.
The team topped their group by five points over second-placed Kuwait to secure a spot in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier play-off for the second consecutive year. Jersey is scheduled to travel to Nepal next month for an eight-team tournament with one-day international status. The top four teams from that tournament will advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Tribe noted that while the team reached the qualifier play-off level in Namibia in 2023, they did not progress from that stage. He stated that the side is consistently showing they belong at that level by reaching it back-to-back years, noting the squad is now three years older than it was in 2023 and is improving.
During the Challenge League A, Tribe was named best batter at the final round, while teammate Josh Lawrenson was named best player. Tribe recorded his highest-ever international score of 150 during Jersey's win over Papua New Guinea. He also scored 65 against Kenya and 53 against Qatar, while taking nine wickets across five matches.
Jersey will face Italy, Canada, Uganda, Namibia, and the United Arab Emirates next month, in addition to Kuwait and hosts Nepal. The team was defeated in all four of their preparation matches against the UAE and Nepal in July.
Tribe expressed that while he would like to think the team could progress, it will be a challenge. He identified Italy and Uganda as strong sides and noted that Kuwait beat Jersey in the last round. He further stated that Namibia, Nepal, Canada, and the UAE have been playing ODI cricket all year round for the last three years and prior to that, making them very strong sides. However, Tribe believes the team can take lessons from their earlier games against Nepal and the UAE to learn about matchups and the intensity of that level of play. He believes they can turn over a few of those sides and aim to finish in the top half of the table.
Tribe also played alongside his younger brother, Asa Tribe, a Glamorgan and England Lions batter. The brothers shared a 133-run partnership in the win over Kenya during the first three matches. Zak Tribe said having the chance to play with his brother at the international level again has helped the team because they benefit from Asa's experience of the county game in England and franchise cricket. He described Asa as having a different, more advanced perspective of the game, noting that players can pick his brains while he bats in the middle to bounce ideas off each other.
Tribe admitted his own game is currently slightly behind where Asa's is. He stated he is looking to progress through the levels, perform well for Jersey, and hopes to secure county or franchise cricket opportunities, noting there are many franchise leagues popping up around the world.
