GLOUCESTERSHIRE Over 60s are starting the new season in style – with a dream trip to India!
A party of 13 players will depart Heathrow on February 8 ahead of playing three matches in Mumbai, including two under lights.
The tour also includes watching some of the action in the third Test between India and England in Rajkot, before several players will head to Chennai to support Gloucestershire team-mate Ed Gordon-Lennox who will be representing England in the Over 60 World Cup.
Steve Pennington, who captains Gloucestershire Over 60s’ 2nd XI, is acting as tour manager.
He said: “It promises to be the trip of a lifetime and we can’t wait to get over there. The planning began back in September and has come together nicely.
“I first went to India in 2016, visiting Mumbai, and made friends for life. The hospitality is overwhelming and I can’t wait to share this experience with my teammates.”
The opening match of the tour will take place at Shivaji Park Gymkhana while the final game is scheduled to be hosted at the historic Bombay Gymkhana (main image) which staged India’s first-ever Test match, against England in 1933.
Gloucestershire Over 60s, meanwhile, are in such rude health that a fourth XI will be launched this summer alongside three existing Over 50 sides and an Over 70s team.
Razi Ahmed was recently elected as the new chair of Gloucestershire Seniors who, as recently as 2007, fielded only one Over 50 team.
He said: “Seniors cricket has experienced a huge growth in numbers, and we now want to take Gloucestershire to the next level and make the county one of the most successful in the country across all the age levels.
“We have come a long way in the last ten years, and want to build on the good work in the past to be regularly challenging for championships, balancing winning with having fun and enjoying ourselves.”
The Gloucestershire Seniors committee has been expanded to include Len Attard (cricket liaison manager), Phil Edge (player relationship manager) and Ian Robson (club relationship manager) who will work alongside Razi, secretary Bill Church and finance manager Steve Pennington.
England international Richard Trotman will this summer captain Gloucestershire Over 50s while the new 60s 4th XI will be skippered by Tom Parsons.
Full list of captains: O50s: Richard Trotman; 50s 2nds: Mark Febery; 50s 3rds: Pete Bovey; O60s: Nick Marment; 60s 2nds: Steve Pennington; 60s 3rds: Bill Church; 60s 4ths: Tom Parsons; O70s: Roger Beese.