GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Ed Gordon Lennox is to captain the England Over 60 squad which will also feature county colleague Razi Ahmed on a trip Down Under to defend the Grey Ashes before Christmas.
Top order batter Ed and off-spinner Razi, along with 15 other players, will arrive in Brisbane on November 15 for a busy five-week tour featuring five one-day internationals against the Aussies and one ODI verses New Zealand. They will also play eight other matches against state sides.
Ed, aged 63, admits his appointment as captain came as a big surprise after Richard Merriman, who had been highly successful in the role for the last three years, announced that the time had come for him to stand down.
Ed said: “I really did not have to think very long about having the opportunity to captain our country, in Australia, on a mission to defend the Grey Ashes. It’s a huge privilege and honour and undoubtedly the highlight of my cricketing career.”
Despite Ed’s previous experience of captaining in Australia, leading a Combined Services tour on a highly successful trip back in 1989, there is clearly much to do in the weeks ahead.
He added: “The aim now is for all of us to get through the current season, fully understand the realities of five weeks travelling around Australia, and then ramp up the tour plans.
“As captain, I believe my role will be both on and off the field in creating an environment that allows all 17 players and the whole touring party to perform at their best and make the most of a remarkable opportunity. To retain the Grey Ashes we will all have to work hard to become ‘greater than the sum of our parts.’”
Razi, (above), secured his first international call-up in no little part due to an outstanding display of bowling in a recent Over 60s county championship clash against Hampshire at Painswick.
The 59-year-old Golden Hill off-spinner finished with figures of 4-20 from nine overs, with his victims including chairman of England selectors Geoff Beale!
Razi, who is chair of Gloucestershire Seniors, said: “The call-up is like a dream come true, I’m absolutely over the moon.
“My first question, on receiving the call, was to check that I’m eligible as I won’t be 60 until December 21 … but, because my birthday falls within this calendar year I’m fine. What an early present this is!
“I’m honoured, privileged and chuffed beyond words, and I’ve been overwhelmed by all the messages and texts I’ve received from the Gloucestershire Seniors family as well as from the members at Golden Hill. As one player said to me, ‘Old is Gold’!’”
Ed’s appointment, meanwhile, means Gloucestershire will have provided the captains of all three of England’s senior sides.
John Evans, of Frocester, is currently leading England in the first-ever Over 70 World Cup, while Twyford House all-rounder Richard Trotman has skippered the Over 50s on several occasions this summer.