By Richard Edwards
23 January 2023
It’s never too late to
dream of international honours – and now a generation of 40 somethings could
find themselves with something extra to play for when the season begins in just
a couple of months’ time.
Earlier in January, the Over-40s and Over-50s International
Steering Committee announced the introduction of a World Cup for the former age
category.
The move followed the inaugural Over-50 tournament, held in
Australia in 2018. The second edition of the competition was hosted by Cape
Town two years later.
Now, those involved in the recreational game who might have
thought the chance of an England cap had passed them by, have the opportunity to represent
their country in Karachi in September.
The truly global tournament is likely to feature teams from
Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada,
USA, Zimbabwe, Wales, Namibia, and the UAE in a 45 over competition running
from 23 September to 8 October.
Planning for the World Cup is already well underway, with
two preliminary practice sessions having been held. But those running the
England side are determined to spread the net for representatives as far as
possible.
In short, if you’re in the right age bracket, you could be
walking out with the Three Lions on your chest in one of the world’s great
cricket hotbeds later this year.
And if you can wangle the time off, you could even hop over
the border to watch the full 50 over equivalent, which kicks off in India the
week after an Over-40 final which will be broadcast live to viewers across the
cricket world.
The England side will be coached by Luke Humphrey, who,
understandably, can’t wait to get cracking.
“It’s the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented
cricketers,” he tells the Club Cricket Conference. “It’s also a chance to
represent my country at a World Cup, albeit at a recreational event. To be at
the front-end of setting up a tournament for a brand
new age group is massively exciting.
“Peter Rider, who runs the England over 50s and 60s
approached me. When the news came out that there would be an inaugural World
Cup in Pakistan, a flyer went out to generate interest. I was one of the people
who came back and expressed an interest in the job.
“After a few conversations, I landed the job of head coach. Obviously it’s a separate from the England squads run by the ECB
but nonetheless, to be able to lead your country in a first tournament of its
kind is still an incredible honour.”
Given the performances of Jimmy Anderson and Darren Stevens
in recent years, there has rarely been such a focus on cricketers who have
turned 40. It’s highly unlikely that either will feature this World Cup side –
Anderson will hope to be putting his feet up in September having seen off the
challenge of the Australians in this summer’s Ashes – but Humphrey and a
coaching team which might also include former South African quick Andre Nel,
will still have plenty of talent to work with.
“I’ll be speaking to whoever is captain to really get a
sense of how they want to run the team,” he says. “Then I’ll be there to
support that and add my own sort of flavour to it. At the end of the day, we’ll
have to look at the squad that we put together.
“It’s a really
interesting process and we’re still in the early stages of putting that
squad together. We want to reach out and hit as much of England as we can,
rather than just reach a pocket of people that we might personally know. We
want it to really reflect the English club game.”
Humphrey will be working closely with those involved in the
club game, as well as the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC), to ensure this
England side includes the broadest range of club cricketers possible.
It’s then over to those players to sell the notion of a
three-week cricket tournament to wives or the businesses which employ them!
“We do have around 25 individuals who have already expressed
an interest,” says Humphrey. “But essentially we’re pulling together a squad out
of nothing.”
So, there you have it. If you’re over 40 and still scoring
runs or taking wickets at the highest level of club cricket, this World Cup
could thrust you into the spotlight. An England cap awaits those lucky enough
to get on that plane.
For more information
please contact Chris Mayes
| englandover40scricket@outlook.com |