Let’s talk over 50s Cricket

What do you do when you feel too old to play cricket? Play Over 50s cricket. This is a rapidly expanding area in Australia, with new sides popping up all over. There is a long history of over 60s and over 70s cricket, but only more recently have the younger group had a way of keeping involved.  In NSW, those Over 50s sides play each other in an informal league, throughout the year. This requires weekend trips to Cootamundra, Central Coast, Southern Highlands, Lithgow, Armidale, Tamworth, Hunter and Warners Bay.

Those teams then meet in the State Championship, played last year in Armidale.  Decent turf wickets, official umpires and beautiful grounds. This is cricket at its very best – highly competitive, but not taken too seriously, with lots of socialising after the games.

From this tournament and the games during the year, teams are selected to represent NSW at the National Championships. These were held in Orange last February and were a huge success.  This season’s tournament was held very early in Brisbane in November; this was necessary, to allow a selection process for the World Cup. Sixteen men were chosen to represent Australia at the inaugural Over 50s World Cup, held in Sydney last month, which Australia won. In fact, they were undefeated, winning 8 games in 16 days, defeating Pakistan in the final. They then played a further two ODIs against England, winning both and therefore re-claiming the Ashes (which they had lost on tour to England, last year). Details of all these games are on the Over 50s World Cup Facebook page and on MyCricket. Those selected are all now proud owners of an Over 50s Baggy Green.

So, if you are over 50s, there is every reason to keep playing cricket. There is no Over 50s side based in Orange, with the nearest being the Western Wildfires in Lithgow.  The State Championships this season they are in Orange, February 10-12th, so it would be great to have a team of locals, either independent, or as a Western Wildfires second XI. Anyone interested in playing in an Orange side can contact Dave Hobbs on 0427148425, for more details.

I am happy not to be mentioned and can provide a photo of the Over 50s Baggy Green to go with the article. If you want a personal touch, then you could include a paragraph like this:

Local Kinross cricketer Stuart Crisp has played for Western Wildfires in the state comp and was selected for NSW. He was then chosen as first reserve for the Australian World Cup squad. Sadly, he didn’t get a game during the World Cup. He did however, play against England in the One Day International immediately following. Australia beat England to reclaim the Ashes, which they had relinquished on the tour to England in 2017.