Australia’s masters cricket captain Peter Jensen says competition is fierce at the international level for players over 60 years of age.
“You’d be surprised, it’s just as competitive as [playing] when you were as a kid,” he said.
“You never lose that spirit, it’s very keenly contested.”
The top order batsman is from Bowral in the New South Wales Southern Highlands where Don Bradman lived and famously honed his skills hitting a golf ball with a cricket stump in the family home.
Mr Jensen said his impressive batting average of 112.5 had been artificially inflated by “a good tour of England and a few not outs”, but representing his country as a senior player was his greatest achievement.
“We go through quite a process of selection from club to state titles, and if you get into the state side, you go to the nationals and depending on how you perform, you’ll be selected,” he said.
“We feel very privileged to be part of it — we get a baggy green and blazer and the protocols are similar to regular cricket.
“We sing the anthem before the game and attend some functions and do some charity work.”
‘It’s keeping us all young’
He said the number of men playing masters cricket was booming as they looked for a social hobby with some exercise.
“It’s particularly important for men and there’s a reason we have men’s sheds,” he said.
“Cricket is referred to as another men’s shed because we get together, it’s tremendous for your outlook and emotional wellbeing, and physically, it doesn’t hurt either.
“So many people are taking it up to be part of a group and part of a team.”
Challenging conditions
Conditions are expected to be challenging when the team arrives at Chennai in India this month to play 10 games in 15 days for the second International Masters Over-60s Cricket World Cup.
The team will play in forecast 31 degree heat with 90 per cent humidity.
“It will be a challenge for guys of our vintage to get through the games, but we’re excited and it’s going to be an attack on the senses,” Mr Jensen said.
The Australian masters side was beaten in the semi-finals of the last International Masters World Cup by eventual winners Pakistan.
Mr Jensen said his team would face different pitches and conditions to those in Australia and some countries were fielding former professional players.
“We’ve had test and Sheffield Shield players in the past, but no one currently in the Australian set up,” Mr Jensen said.
“Pakistan and Sri Lanka have former test players now, but people who have been at the top often don’t have the inclination or their body has given out on them.
“At this age, it’s survival of the fittest.”
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