The New Zealand over 70s cricket team, known as the Grey Caps, will play against an England side in Ashburton, when they host the Over-70s World Cup.
The game is at the Ashburton Domain on March 1.
It is one of many planned at grounds across Canterbury from February 18.
The New Zealand team includes five Canterbury over 70s representatives, and a further three who live in the region but play for Otago.
Captain Bob Masefield, who lives in Akaroa, turned 70 in August.
He said the tournament had been in the offering for some time.
‘‘We had our provincial tournament about a couple of months ago, and the team was picked then so we’ve been building from there.”
Masefield played one Plunket Shield game for Canterbury in the 1984/85 season.
He is one of three players with first-class experience in the squad, alongside former Otago batter Paul Facoory and Auckland and Otago fast bowler John Cushen.
With an Over-70s World Cup game every two days, fitness is an important focus for the team.
‘‘I’m going to the gym for the first time in my life. In 70 years I’ve never been to the gym and I’m going now, everyone’s putting a lot of work in,” Masefield said.
Masefield did not take part in the Over-70s World Cup in England two years ago – he was not old enough – but has represented the national over 60s side on several occasions including a world cup, which is held every three years in that age bracket.
The Over-70s World Cup features eight teams who will meet each other in the roundrobin, with the top-two teams to play in the final at Hagley Oval on March 5.
New Zealand’s first game is against the Rest Of World team, featuring players from countries not participating such as Pakistan and Scotland, on February 18 in Ohoka.
They then meet Sri Lanka, Australia, the United States, India, England and Canada.
Masefield said the two biggest games would be against Australia (February 22) and England (March 1), with the Grey Caps likely needing to win at least one of those to make the final. In 2024, they came fourth.
“We’re going to have to play our best to beat either of them,” he said.
‘‘They’ve got vast numbers to pick from, the (over) 70s in New Zealand is just growing at the moment and if we can sneak a win against one of them that would be fantastic.”
Masefield said the level of cricket was still high – several of his teammates play president’s grade in Christchurch, which is open to players over 40.
“The batting is just as competitive and bowling is still pretty good. Fielding, of course, drops off a little bit as you get older.
‘‘That’s one of the things we’ve really concentrated on for this tournament, but the competitive edge is still there. When you pull that silver fern on your chest and go out in the field, it’s a fair privilege.”
NEW ZEALAND SQUAD Bob Masefield (c), Roger Stachurski (vc), Hamish Cochran, John Cushen, Morris Dawson, John Durning, Chris East, Paul Facoory, Bevin Guthrie, Mike Johnson, Cliff King, Peter Nixon, Simon Payten, Tony Penny, Gary Rudolph, Julian van Dyk, Evan Watkin, and Jeremy Wilson.
~ Alliedmedia.co.nz
