Australian Over 70s Cricket Tour of England 2018

The Australian Over 70s team that toured England for five weeks in 2018 consisted of eighteen players representing all Australian states.

Click on photo to enlarge image

Back row L to R: Tom Wood (NSW), Bruce Pooley (Vic), Phil Smith (NSW), Ian A Gibson (Vic), John Stackpoole (Qld), Alan Reid (SA), John Costello (Vic), Roger Edmunds (Tas), Tim Spear (Vic), Wavell McPherson (Vic)
Front row L to R: John Terrell (WA), Ron Kasputtis (Vic), Ian B Gibson (Vic), Lindsay Fisher Vic - team manager), Ian Petherick (Qld - captain), Stirling Hamman (NSW - vice-captain), Colin Cooke, Harry Solomons (NSW), Robin Court (Vic).

There were seven WAGs supporting the players on the tour. L to R: Vicki Court, Helen Gibson, June Thornhill, Margaret Smith, Ann Edmunds, Shirley McPherson and Patricia Costello.

The tour started on 27 July when we arrived in London with the final ODI on 27 August. We returned home the following day though some of the group remained in Europe for another week or two.

Thirteen matches were played during the tour - nine County Games and four ODIs.

Having the opportunity to represent Australia playing cricket in England is something many cricketers dream of. I am sure that twenty years ago none of the players in this squad envisioned that they would have the opportunity to do so once they had reached the age of 70. To be healthy and fit enough at 70 plus to be able to play a high standard of the game that they enjoy and have played for years is definitely an achievement to be celebrated.

There were many highlights on this tour. Australia won eight of the nine county games and the game they lost was short by one run. On this tour the first over 70s ODI match Australia versus Wales was played, which Australia won, and it is hoped that this will become a regular fixture on future tours. There were also three closely fought ODIs against England with England winning the Silver Ashes on this occasion two games to one. Next time ...

What really stood out on the tour was the camaraderie and good will among all the players and supporters we met. The hospitality received was excellent. As we travelled around southern UK we often met the same people, especially those playing in the ODIs, and friendships were formed. At least one county team is considering making a trip to Australia in the future and regular tours by the Australian and England over 70s team will continue.

Each player would have had personal highlights from the tour. For Robin playing an ODI against England, an ODI against Wales (the country where his parents were born) plus a game against Worcestershire (the county where he was born) were special events.

Of course there was more than cricket on the tour. The trip to England also provided the chance to explore. Towns, villages and cities we visited included Waltham Abbey,  Chelmsford, Tring, Maldon, Cambridge, Kings Lynn, Fackenham, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick, Banbury, Nottingham, Pershore, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Moreton Pinkney, Dorridge, Bibury, Cirencester,  Abergavenny, Crawley, Horsham, Chichester, Middleton on Sea, Canterbury, Maidstone, Cobham, Tunbridge Wells, Horsley, Windsor, Sutton.

The tour covered counties in southern England as well as the visit to Wales. The counties included Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Berkeshire. We had also visited some of these counties previously on other trips to the UK.

Visiting Tunbridge Wells

On our free days and travelling days we were able to spend time exploring buildings and locations such as Canterbury Cathedral, Kings College Chapel, Windsor Castle, Warwick Castle and Chichester Cathedral. Being a cricket tour we also visited cricket grounds including Lords, Trent Bridge and the Nevill Ground at Tunbridge Wells.

During the matches there was often opportunity for the WAGs to explore the local area and sometimes shop. People from the hosting club often provided suggestions and directions for these expeditions.

War memorials and Centenary of First World War displays were in many of the locations visited and information about some of these appear in my Exploring Military History blog.

In 2015 we had the opportunity to tour with the Australian over 60s team in England. Three other players on that tour - Ian Petherick, Colin Cooke and John Stackpoole - were also in the over 70s team and it was good to catch up with them again.

Alistair

One of the differences we noticed between the tours was that on this occasion we had a coach to transport us around England and to the games. On the 2015 tour we had hired cars which meant that players driving the cars, and the navigators, had the additional strain of driving, often long distances, before and after each game. The coach was definitely a better option. Alistair, our driver for most of the tour, enjoyed watching the cricket and also provided additional suggestions for sight seeing options.Travelling in the coach provided an additional opportunity for those on the tour to get to know each other better and by the end of the tour there was a friendly demarcation between those at the back of the bus and those who preferred to travel in the front.

Lindsay in 'his office'

On this tour we also had a manager, Lindsay Fisher, who did a marvellous job organising all aspects of the tour, including any unexpected changes. Whenever we arrived at a ground Lindsay would find a corner in the clubroom which became his office for the day - when he wasn't watching the game. On the 2015 tour this role was undertaken by the players and the strain on the captain and vice captain on that tour was obvious.

Margaret - our international scorer

The Australian team was also fortunate that Margaret Smith enjoyed scoring and volunteered to be the scorer for the team. This saved the players or manager having to take on this role. Of course, after scoring for our first ODI, Margaret became known as our 'international scorer'.

Communication about the tour was recorded on the Facebook page - Australia Over 70s in England - which contained regular summaries and photographs of our progress. Detailed reports of each game were added to Veterans Cricket Australia website.

The following posts describe some of our adventures during the five weeks spent touring southern England and Wales. It really was a fantastic tour.

The Adventure Begins

July 26 - the time for last minute packing for the trip to England for the Australian Over 70s Cricket Team tour of England. This was our second opportunity to travel to England with an Australian Seniors  Cricket Team - the last time was three years ago with the Australian Over 60s Cricket Team.

Timothy drove us to the airport and he and Aiden helped us with our bags. Aiden insisted on guiding my suitcase from the the car to the airport. Once we were in the queue Aiden gave me instructions as to how move the suitcase to the desk.

The first queue

Aiden filled in time eating ice cream, including dropping some on the floor. As Aiden had school the next day Timothy took him home. Aiden, however as they left, provided me once again how to look after my suitcase.

On this trip we flew with Malaysian Airlines. The plane was due to leave Melbourne at 11.25 pm. While we were waiting, we met two other team members waiting for the same flight - Brian Pooley and Ian Gibson.  We arrived at Kuala Lumpur early in the morning and had a three hour break before the next flight to London. Harry Solomons joined our flight at KL. We eventually arrived at Heathrow at 3.30 in the afternoon of July 27 after a long journey.

Waiting for the rest of our party to arrive

At Heathrow we met up with four other members of our touring team before travelling by coach to the Waltham Abbey Marriott Hotel in Essex.

Waltham Abbey Marriott Hotel

We slept well that night.

Waltham Abbey

Waltham Abbey is a market town in Essex.

The township is approximately a 30 minute walk from the hotel.

We decided to explore Waltham Abbey late on a Sunday morning so not many people were about, especially as rain was threatening.

The passage way on the left leads into the grounds of Waltham Abbey church.

There has been a church in Waltham since Saxon times and the Waltham Cross was once considered a place of pilgrimage.

In 1060 Harold Godwinson had the church rebuilt. In 1184 Henry II raised the status of the church to an abbey.

At the back of the church is a stone purporting to mark the place of the burial of King Harold in 1066. A number of other locations in England also claim the burial of Harold.

Much of the abbey complex has been destroyed over time but there are still remnants of the walls of part of the structure in the grounds.

This section was the entrance to the former cloister passage.

A section of abbey walls showing the size of the complex.

The remains of the abbey gateway.

Much of the stonework has been reused in other building projects such as the remaining walls of Abbey House which was built by the Denney family after the dissolution of the monasteries. The house was demolished in 1770.

Birds enjoy the relative solitude of the abbey grounds.

A wooden carving of a monk stands among the trees.

Interior of the present church - Church of the Holy Cross and St Lawrence. This building was part of the west end of the abbey.

The church entrance today.

A history of Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey Church history

Chelmsford

A practice session had been organised at the Essex Cricket Ground on the day after we arrived in England so we set off in the coach to Chelmsford after lunch.

We were welcomed to the ground and then had a chance to view the oval.

The players then went to the indoor nets for their practice session.

I then set out to explore Chelmsford.

Walking through the back of the cricket ground you come to the River Can. Central Park is on the other side of the river.

It was market day.

An arcade in Chelmsford.

The Slug and Lettuce - one of a chain of pubs in England - on the River Chelmer.

And like all good cities there is a public library.

Tring - County Game 1

The first match in the Australian Overs 70 cricket tour of England was a county game against Hertfordshire at Tring.

Tring Cricket Club was established in 1836 and has been playing at its current ground since 1873.

It had rained the previous day so while the groundsmen continued getting the ground ready for play the Australians warmed up for the game.

The umpires supervised the toss which was won by Australia who decided to bowl on a damp pitch.

The Australian team photo was then taken.

There was also a photograph taken of both teams.

Hertfordshire, batting twelve, was all out for 101.

Australian bowling: Tim Spear 1 for 10 off 4, Colin Cooke 2 for 10 off 9, Robin Court 2 for 18 off 7, Stirling Hamman 1 for 11 off 5, Roger Edmunds 0 for 7 off 6, Alan Reid 1 for 34 off 6 and Tom Wood 4 for 9 off 7. Catches to Wavell McPherson, Alan Reid, John Terrell and Tim Spear (2), plus a stumping to John Terrell.

The Australian batsmen scored 3 for 104 in 20.4 overs. Australian batting: Tom Wood 52 retired, Stirling Hamman 17 no, Roger Edmunds 15 no, John Stackpoole 8 and Ian Petherick 4.

During the afternoon I decided to explore Tring.

As the sign states, Tring has been a market town since 1315.

The Memorial Garden is a pleasant, quiet place to relax.

Buildings of character line the main street.

The church of St Peter and St Paul is a prominent building in the town. This building dates back to the 15th century however there has been a parish church in Tring since 1214.

The archway to Sutton Court is an impressive structure built in 1825.

I also passed this narrow building but have not been able to locate any information about it. I am sure that there is a story to tell.

Back at the cricket ground the players had time to relax after the game.

After a meal at the ground the Australian contingent returned to the hotel after a successful day.