AN OLDER generation of cricketers will take over Horsham City Oval in February as the masters cricket program finally gets the green light.
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A four-team competition will see players over the age of 50 strap on the pads to wind back the clock in a series of Twenty20 games.
For mostly retired Homers legend Dave Hopper it is a chance to renew some old rivalries.
“I thought I would never get another chance to lose to some of the boys, but now it looks like I’ll get a chance all over again,” he said.
“It’s also a great opportunity to keep physically active.
“From a Cricket Australia point of view, they had a whole generation of cricketers who stopped playing when they were 40, but this gives them a chance to get going again.”
Hopper has continued to play cricket in regional masters carnivals and said it was often a good excuse for a trip as well.
“The wives and family will come along when we go to Perth or somewhere else,” he said. “We won’t see them all week because they will go off shopping.”
Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly has worked in conjunction with the Horsham Cricket Association to organise the competition after grant support to organise different masters programs was made available.
The assembly’s Matt Friedleib said it was about providing another opportunity to the older generation to remain physical.
“It also gets them re-engaged in cricket,” he said.
“From an association perspective there is an opportunity to renew old rivalries as well.”
The sport assembly approached cricket association board member Howard Schier with the concept.
“It will be good to get the old boys back involved,” he said.
“It will give a lot of them a chance to play at city oval.”
The competition will see games played under lights at the oval, following the completion of regular club cricket games on Saturdays.
“We’re hoping the community gets behind it this season,” Schier said.
“Then we can continue to build on it for next season.”
The first game will be played on February 4 with a 6.30pm start time after Jung plays Laharum.