The Israel squad includes a number of very talented young players. Whereas some have been playing since the start of the ICA youth development programme over 2 years ago, others are relatively new to the game. Three players, opening batsmen Bar Ilya and Eyal Matz and talented leg-spinner Ronen Wasker, were part of the U15 team that won the silver medal at last years tournament in Berlin. The surprise inclusion was that of Shai Chagun from Dimona, who only began playing cricket two months ago and has shown tremendous talent as a wicketkeeper.

The selection of the team involved some extremely tough decision-making. Over 20 players were considered, indicating the strides made in promoting the game amongst Israel's youth over the past few months.

The tournament features six teams - hosts Italy being joined by Belgium, France, Germany, Gibraltar and Israel. Each team will play each other once, in 20-over fixtures staged one after the other on the Grosetto oval.

Without any knowledge of the standard of the opposing teams, predicting Israel's chances is impossible. What is known is that the boys are motivated to do well and have been practicing extremely hard for many months in preparation. They have the bowlers to take the wickets and the batsman to score the runs, and there are some outstanding fielders as well.

Whilst there is little room for comparison to the U15 team of last year, the goal of the team is not to match the standards they set, but rather to go one better - and win the tournament. Win or not, 13 young cricketers from Israel have a chance to meet and test their skills against boys their age from all over Europe, and share an experience they will never forget.

The team will be accompanied by coach Herschel Gutman and manager George Sheader, who will be aiming to repeat the success they achieved with the U15 team 12 months ago. Gutman, having just enjoyed a brilliantly successful tour with the full national team to the European Championships, has the ability to impart his enthusiasm for the game onto his young charges, whilst Sheader, who spends hours each day under the hot Negev sun introducing and developing the game in Be'er Sheva, Dimona and Yeruham, is a father-like figure to most of the boys.