GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Ed Gordon Lennox is ready and raring to go for the Over 60 World Cup which will shortly get underway in India.
The 63-year-old has been named as vice captain of an 18-man squad that faces an intense series of matches in testing conditions.
But Ed, who missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Australia because of injury, believes England are well prepared to make a big impression after enjoying a terrific run of success in the last 12 months which included winning the Carib Cup, triumphing in the Grey Ashes and sharing the Canada Cup with Australia.
He said: “We had an excellent get-together before Christmas at Loughborough where (former England coach) Paul Farbrace talked about what we’re facing.
“There were three main takeaways … one, yes this is about the cricket, but it’s also about experiencing and relishing the unique sights and sounds of India.
“Secondly, the cricket will be different. We will be on end-of-season, worn-wickets that are slow and low, and it will be difficult to build big scores so that means it’s important to take singles whenever we can and to field well.
“Seamers will have their moments but our spinners will be vital … we have to spin it to have a chance of winning.
“And thirdly, a real key will be to keep adapting. We’re on a very tight schedule of games, and the chances are that there will be injuries and times when people aren’t feeling well, so we will have to be agile to deal with what’s in front of us.”
Ed has complemented January nets sessions with a stretching regime and regular trips to the gym ahead of looking forward to two important warm-up matches.
England face Madras on February 14 at the historic Chepauk Stadium, the home of the Chennai Super Kings, and then meet India two days later before getting the World Cup underway with pool matches against New Zealand, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Rest of the World, Canada and the United States in only ten days.
Knock out matches to determine final positions in the 14-team tournament will then take place from March 1-3.
Ed, who will be cheered on by several members of a Gloucestershire seniors party also touring India at the same time, added: “The warm-up games are so important and will, I believe, shape how the rest of the tour goes. We can’t wait.”