New Zealand’s over-60s cricket team to compete in veterans’ world cup final

New Zealand’s over-60s men’s cricket team prior to their semifinal win over Canada on the Sunshine Coast in Australia.
Photo: Supplied / Jeremy Wilson

While the Black Caps floundered in Australia, another New Zealand cricket team was sweeping all before it across the Tasman.

The national over-60s men’s team has made the final of the veterans’ world cup on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

They beat Canada in their semi final on Monday and have won six 45-over matches out of six, in contrast to the Black Caps’ fortunes.

On Wednesday, they are up against Pakistan as the sides compete for the first over-60s world title.

In the New Zealand lineup is former Canterbury left-arm spinner Andrew Nuttall.

He said his team-mates were upbeat ahead of the clash against Pakistan, who knocked out Australia.

“Our spinners have been going well. Three of us are in the top five wicket-takers for the tournament, so we’re pretty pleased with that,” he said.

“We’ve had some really good fielding. Mike Johnson, who’s known as Scrumpy, took the best catch I’ve seen in the field for a long time [on Monday] at mid-off, to his right, one-handed, full stretch.

“It was outstanding. People might be able to search it on YouTube.”

Nuttall spoke to RNZ on Tuesday after a session of physio.

To stay supple enough for a day in the field he regularly attends yoga and pilates classes, and does plenty of stretching.

He played alongside the great Sir Richard Hadlee for Canterbury, and said players from opposition teams were passing on their regards to the man known as Paddles.

Since giving up regular cricket, Nuttall had kept his hand in playing for the Willows Cricket Club in the province, where invitational teams face schools.

Ironically, he said, the club had also attracted many veterans back to the game.

“I was in and out of the Canterbury team during the 1980s, but always enjoyed it.

“I would have liked to have done a bit better, but that wasn’t the case,” he said.

“I still played club cricket until my mid-30s, but then we had twins. We had four under five.

“I never retired, I just didn’t turn up.”

Among his children is Canterbury men’s left-arm seamer Ed Nuttall.

New Zealand veterans cricket chairman Jeremy Wilson said the country had over-40s, 50s, 60s and 70s teams, and competitions that were getting stronger every year.

“It also reflects society whereby people are staying fitter longer, and they’re competitive and they love that camaraderie.

“It’s great meeting guys. We have a lot of fun at tournaments and we still enjoy the game.”

Wilson, 68, was in Queensland as a spare player. He played provincial veterans’ cricket, also returning through the Willows club after a lengthy absence.

Despite playing plenty of matches over the past few days, he said everyone had pulled up OK after the semi final.

“We’ve got a physio booked at one-hour intervals right throughout the day, so that’s probably a reflection of how they’re feeling.

“There were a few anti-inflammatories handed out at breakfast this morning. Most of the guys are OK, but there’re a lot of sore bodies because the level of commitment that they give is no different from the top level.

“There’s a lot of diving in the outfield, sprinting between wickets and all these sorts of things.”

Nuttall said he wasn’t sure how long he would play on for, but even at 65 he was still thinking of ways to improve.

“I’m still trying to work out how to get a few more revs on the ball. I’m not getting any better, but I don’t think I’m getting any worse.

“It’s just the challenge and it’s a lot of fun. It’s more fun winning than losing, that’s for sure.”

Nuttall and six New Zealand team-mates were part of a Canterbury over-60s side that had never lost a game.

They were hoping that streak continued in their black uniforms.