Senior Bears in ‘Grey Ashes’ tour Down Under

Three Senior Bears from Warwickshire’s Over-60s have been selected for the England squad to tour Australia for the ‘Grey Ashes’.

Mark Eames, Nigel Moore and Mike Palmer are included in an 18-player touring party that heads Down Under later this month for the five-match ODI series.

England Over-60s retained the Grey Ashes urn in 2023 after edging out the Aussies 3-2 and triumphed 2-1 on their last trip to Australia in 2019.

However, the Baggy Greens won the most recent encounter in the Over 60s World Cup final in February this year.

Palmer was recently voted Warwickshire Seniors Player of the Year after scoring 289 runs (72.25 ave) and taking 16 wickets at 17.25 apiece for Bears Over 60s.

Eames also enjoyed a standout season, amassing 454 runs with an average of 50.44, while Nigel Moore claimed 14 wickets.

Phil Budd from the Warwickshire Seniors Cricket Association, said: “No county has more representatives in the national Over-60s squad for the series which goes to show the strength of the senior sides in Warwickshire.

“Interest in seniors cricket is higher than it’s ever been and the standard is improving all the time. It should be great series between the two best Over-60s sides in the world.”

The two old foes have met 35 times in Over 60s cricket with England winning 23 times and Australia 10. The first official meeting between the teams took place in August 2009 at Sheffield United’s Bawtry Road ground with England winning comfortably by nine wickets.

If you’d like to join Warwickshire Seniors email Phil Budd at philgbudd@hotmail.com.

Schedule

24 November – 1st Grey Ashes ODI @ Bradman Oval, Bowra
28 November – 2st Grey Ashes ODI @ Caulfield Park, Caulfield, Melbourne
6 December – 3rd Grey Ashes ODI @ Tanunda Oval, Adelaide
13 December – 4thGrey Ashes ODI @ College Park, Nedlands, Perth
15 December – 5th Grey Ashes ODI @ Fletcher Park, Carlisle, Perth