FRIENDLY GAME: The Australian and North Yorkshire over 60s teams at Great Ayton
Like their compatriots contesting The Ashes, the 36- strong party of Aussies are on a tour of the country which will culminate with two Tests against their English counterparts later in the summer.
Great Ayton was added to the itinerary after three players from the club were members of an England over-60s team which toured Australia last year.
The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the boyhood home of Captain Cook being transported brick by brick from the North Yorkshire village to Fitzroy Gardens, in Melbourne, where it remains a popular visitor attraction today.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, sent the team with a picture of the cottage to present to Great Ayton Parish Council.
A special coin featuring Captain Cook was also handed over to be used for the toss at the start of the match.
Frances Greenwell, chairwoman of the parish council, said: “It’s a delight to welcome the Australian team to Great Ayton, especially on such a lovely day. Great Ayton does have strong links to Australia through Captain Cook and Australians are always welcome here.”
John Hammer, co-ordinator of Australia Over 60 Cricket Association, said Melbourne City Council had been “very excited” to hear the team was stopping off at Great Ayton.
“We have two teams and a selection panel which will be assessing who gets into our Test team,” he added.
“They’re mainly cricketers who have played for many years and don’t want to retire.
“The chap running between the wickets is only ambling, but so is the fielder chasing the ball.”
A good-sized crowd gathered to watch the game, which was won by North Yorkshire, scoring 209 runs to Australia’s 179 for nine wickets at the end of the allotted 40 overs. [rc]
© Copyright 2001-2009 Newsquest Media Group
August 12, 2009
UK: Howzat for a team of golden oldies?
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DURHAM, England / The Northern Echo / August 12, 2009
By Joe Willis
PENSIONER pacemen and elderly openers battled it out yesterday when the Australian over 60s cricket team visited the region.
The national side took on – and lost to – a North Yorkshire over-60s team in a friendly at Great Ayton, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire. The two teams had a combined age of more than 1,300 years – with the oldest player 73.
FRIENDLY GAME: The Australian and North Yorkshire over 60s teams at Great Ayton
Like their compatriots contesting The Ashes, the 36- strong party of Aussies are on a tour of the country which will culminate with two Tests against their English counterparts later in the summer.
Great Ayton was added to the itinerary after three players from the club were members of an England over-60s team which toured Australia last year.
The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the boyhood home of Captain Cook being transported brick by brick from the North Yorkshire village to Fitzroy Gardens, in Melbourne, where it remains a popular visitor attraction today.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, sent the team with a picture of the cottage to present to Great Ayton Parish Council.
A special coin featuring Captain Cook was also handed over to be used for the toss at the start of the match.
Frances Greenwell, chairwoman of the parish council, said: “It’s a delight to welcome the Australian team to Great Ayton, especially on such a lovely day. Great Ayton does have strong links to Australia through Captain Cook and Australians are always welcome here.”
John Hammer, co-ordinator of Australia Over 60 Cricket Association, said Melbourne City Council had been “very excited” to hear the team was stopping off at Great Ayton.
“We have two teams and a selection panel which will be assessing who gets into our Test team,” he added.
“They’re mainly cricketers who have played for many years and don’t want to retire.
“The chap running between the wickets is only ambling, but so is the fielder chasing the ball.”
A good-sized crowd gathered to watch the game, which was won by North Yorkshire, scoring 209 runs to Australia’s 179 for nine wickets at the end of the allotted 40 overs. [rc]
© Copyright 2001-2009 Newsquest Media Group
FRIENDLY GAME: The Australian and North Yorkshire over 60s teams at Great Ayton
Like their compatriots contesting The Ashes, the 36- strong party of Aussies are on a tour of the country which will culminate with two Tests against their English counterparts later in the summer.
Great Ayton was added to the itinerary after three players from the club were members of an England over-60s team which toured Australia last year.
The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the boyhood home of Captain Cook being transported brick by brick from the North Yorkshire village to Fitzroy Gardens, in Melbourne, where it remains a popular visitor attraction today.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, sent the team with a picture of the cottage to present to Great Ayton Parish Council.
A special coin featuring Captain Cook was also handed over to be used for the toss at the start of the match.
Frances Greenwell, chairwoman of the parish council, said: “It’s a delight to welcome the Australian team to Great Ayton, especially on such a lovely day. Great Ayton does have strong links to Australia through Captain Cook and Australians are always welcome here.”
John Hammer, co-ordinator of Australia Over 60 Cricket Association, said Melbourne City Council had been “very excited” to hear the team was stopping off at Great Ayton.
“We have two teams and a selection panel which will be assessing who gets into our Test team,” he added.
“They’re mainly cricketers who have played for many years and don’t want to retire.
“The chap running between the wickets is only ambling, but so is the fielder chasing the ball.”
A good-sized crowd gathered to watch the game, which was won by North Yorkshire, scoring 209 runs to Australia’s 179 for nine wickets at the end of the allotted 40 overs. [rc]
© Copyright 2001-2009 Newsquest Media Group
