By Kevin Redsull
Betteshanger Colliery Welfare all-rounder Derek Towe has been named as England’s vice-captain for the inaugural Over-70s Cricket World Cup.
Eighteen months ago, Towe, who lives in Eastry, played a key role as England Over-70s’ team regained the Silver Ashes, winning their One-Day International series 2-1 in Australia.
England then followed that up by overcoming the Aussies again when they toured these shores last summer – and now, Towe and Co want to complete a memorable “hat-trick” by winning the first-ever Over-70s World Cup which will feature seven countries: Australia, Canada, England, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Wales.
After tomorrow’s opening group game against the Sri Lankans and Tuesday’s fixture with India at Beaconsfield, England will take on New Zealand at Marlow on Thursday, Australia at Beaconsfield next Tuesday, Wales at Bishops Stortford two days later and Canada at Wargrave next Friday.
The target will be to fight their way through to the final at Wormsley next Sunday.
Towe, 71, said: “Having beaten Australia home and away last year, we’re feeling confident about winning this inaugural World Cup, but nobody is complacent because we know very little about some of our opponents and are also well aware of how easily games can swing.
“Playing in England, we will have the advantage of greater experience of the weather conditions and we have also played at some of the grounds – most of which are in Buckinghamshire and they are all well appointed.
“The Aussies are expected to be as strong as always, but most of the other teams have some players who live and play in England and so they will be very familiar with the conditions, as well.
“Also, all the participating countries apart from us have had some ‘warm-up’ games so our home advantage will not be as strong as it might have been.”
England did have two “trial games” in May – after which the selectors settled upon a squad of 16.
Their squad includes many of last year’s Ashes-winning team, although one big blow is the loss through injury of Essex left-arm seamer Tim Smith who Towe says “bowled brilliantly” against the Aussies last summer. Smith has been replaced by John Turton from Gloucestershire and the same county will also provide the England team captain, John Evans, who is one of their opening batsmen.
Towe, a steady left-handed batsman and slow-medium seam bowler, has played for Kent Seniors at over-50, over-60 and over-70 age levels and helped them to win three National titles, in addition to leading Betteshanger to two National Indoor finals at Lord’s.
Now, he has the chance to help England become the first ever Over-70 World Cup winners.
Towe added: “Being named as John’s vice-captain is a huge honour and, with everyone expected to be given a rest from at least one of the group games, there is the distinct possibility that I will fulfil every cricketer’s dream of leading my country in an international match.”
That, too, would represent another special moment in his already memorable cricketing career.