Warwickshire Seniors will be represented in the Over 60s ODI World Cup in India after veteran all-rounder Mike Palmer was included in the England squad.
Palmer is part of an 18-player squad that flies out to Chennai next month ahead of England’s opening game against New Zealand on 19 February.
He’s been a key member of Warwickshire’s Over 50s side for several seasons and this year will take the step up to Over 60s.
The 59-year-old (he’s 60 this year so qualifies for Over 60s) has scored more than 17,000 runs and taken over 1,600 wickets in Warwickshire and Birmingham league cricket, including a best last season of 5-12 against Scotland for England ’A’.
And during 10 seasons in the Birmingham League for Stratford-upon-Avon and Knowle & Dorridge, would regularly open the bowling alongside the likes of Allan Donald, Charlie Dagnall, Ryan Maclaren.
Palmer is the youngest member of the England Over 60s squad and knows the pressure will be on to perform with both bat and ball.
“There are only three seamers in the squad and, with 10 games in 18 days, I’m sure we will share the opportunities to open the bowling,” said Mike, who was part of the Stratford team that won the Birmingham & District Premier League in 2001.
“It’ll be a fantastic experience to test ourselves against the world’s best players in our age group and hopefully we can come home with the trophy.
“Seniors Cricket with Warwickshire has given me a real lease of life for my cricket and being selected for this tour is a great honour. I’m trying to net as much as possible and feeling really good.
“Hopefully, the pathways on offer to seniors now will act as incentive for many more over 50s, 60s and 70s to the Warwickshire teams.”
Palmer – who’s also played for Solihull, Knowle & Dorridge and Hampton & Solihull – will be joined in Chennai by Warwickshire league umpires Keith Boyall and Ian Gorton.
Palmer is not the only Warwickshire player to be selected for national honours in recent years.
Kevin Bissett from Solihull Municipal was part of the Over 60s in 2022/3 going on tours to the Caribbean and Canada and playing in last summer’s ‘Grey Ashes’ England v Australia series.
Palmer’s clubmate at Hampton & Solihull, Mike Daniels, was also selected for England honours on the trip to Canada.
England have been drawn in Group A alongside New Zealand, Canada, USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Rest of the World. The top two qualify for the semi-finals.
Warwickshire has three Over-50s, three Over-60s and two Over-70s sides.
If you are interested in becoming involved, please register by contacting Darren Reck-Smith at d.a.reck@live.co.uk.
