google-site-verification: googlec7193c3de77668c9.html

Ian Barton: Senior cricketer talks about his England World Cup call-up

Advertisements

“You’re just in the bubble, any sports person will tell you that. You just do what you do and presumably if you’re doing well maybe you get a chance, if there is a chance to promote you go on. That’s what’s happened to me.”

Being called up to represent your country in any sport is a huge honour.

But when we think about being called up, we might assume that sport is a young person’s game.

Not so for Ian Barton, who at the age of 62 is preparing to represent England in a World Cup in Canada – but in the Over-60s Cricket World Cup rather than the ongoing football competition.

“I fly out on 5 August with a 16-man squad to try and win the World Cup,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“I’ve got back into cricket for Lancashire and obviously loving it. I’m doing OK, scoring quite a few runs so I’m enjoying doing what I do.”

Barton’s pathway to playing for his country in a World Cup has happened quite quickly by his own admission.

“This time two years ago I was batting low down in the second team for Lancashire Over-60s and two years hence, I’ve captained the England Lions a few weeks ago,” he added.

“And now I’ve been picked for the England main team to go to the World Cup, so it’s all a bit mind-blowing I suppose.”


BBC News

See also  County Championship: No play possible on day three in Leicester and Birmingham

Check Also

Test Match Special Podcast – England’s Men: The state of the nation

Available for over a year Cricket correspondent Stephan Shemilt is alongside former England captains Michael …

Cricket quiz: Can you name world’s top 20 men’s Test bowlers, based on ICC rankings?

Can you name the top 20 men’s bowlers in the world based on the International …

Brydon Carse: What will it take to prevent England from more hangovers

Yet again, the England men’s cricket team is picking through the wreckage of a late-night …

Leave a Reply

Available for Amazon Prime