A READER in Gibraltar has develop into the world’s oldest international cricketer, after keeping wicket in a match between Estonia and Gibraltar.
Sally Barton was 66 years and 334 days old when the International Cricket Council T20-sanctioned match was played in April, breaking the previous record by almost a yr.
She expects to increase her record on Friday, when Gibraltar play Croatia and Czech in Prague, when she will likely be 67.
Ms Barton is married to the Dean of Gibraltar, the Very Revd Ian Tarrant. For ten years, within the late Nineties, the couple worked for the Church Mission Society (CMS) within the Republic of the Congo.
She was licensed as a Reader on her return, serving within the diocese of Chelmsford, where Dean Tarrant was Vicar of St Mary’s, Woodford, before they moved to the diocese in Europe.
She told the Church Times that her only brush with clergy cricket thus far had been while her husband was training for ordination at St John’s, Nottingham, when the faculty played a match against Cuddesdon.
Dean Tarrant was not, she said, much of a cricketer, and so she played for St John’s in his stead; but, when it turned out that Cuddesdon was a player short, he ended up having to return to the crease for the rival college.
Ms Barton, who was keeping wicket, and has been a keen cricketer since her schooldays, recalls offering him advice on his stance and shot selection.
Cricket, she said, offered a singular opportunity for conversation and fellowship, and was unusual amongst team sports in with the ability to incorporate players of a spread of ages, genders, and skill levels without making the sport non-competitive.
The rhythms of the sport also mimicked life, she suggested. “Sometimes, it may possibly seem to be it’s just plodding along, but there’s actually quite a bit occurring beneath the surface, and the sport can switch right away.”
Northern clergy Twenty20 match. Three sides representing 4 dioceses played out an exhilarating Twenty20 (T20) match in Leeds on Monday of last week, writes Phil Arnold.
Leeds, Sheffield, and a combined team from Carlisle and Blackburn played one another at Pudsey Congs Cricket Club in Leeds, the bottom where VVS Laxman, the good Indian batsman, plied his trade within the Bradford League.
In the primary match, Sheffield began brightly against Leeds, with Ovenden and Oatridge scoring quickly. The total of 137 looked healthy on a slow wicket. After Carew retired on 35, Leeds were struggling, but a powerful middle order brought it back to inside 35 runs in the ultimate 4 overs. The left-arm off spinner Gilmour got here on to take a hat trick, nonetheless, and Leeds were bowled out for 120.
Phil ArnoldNorthern players on the Pudsey Congs Cricket Club in Leeds, on Monday
In the second match, Sheffield batted first against Carlisle/Blackburn. There were notable contributions from Gilmour (retired 35) and Graham (retired 35), who hit 26 off one over. Sheffield hit 138 in 20 overs. Sohail kept things limited with a spell of two for 14, alongside a cheap effort from the leg spin of Brown (1 for 9 off his 4 overs). Blackburn/Carlisle batted solidly, but wickets got here at regular intervals. Boundaries were hard to return by because the run rate increased, they usually finished on a good 89 for five. There were a few wickets for Sheriden.
The final match, between Leeds and Blackburn/Carlisle, was reduced to fifteen overs. Leeds batted first, and scored 94, with Harlow taking 38 quick runs. Blackburn/ Carlisle batted steadily and knocked over the runs with an over to spare after a partnership from Brown and Fyfe, who each retired not out on 35 and 38 respectively.
It was an incredible day’s cricket and the hope is that, within the absence of the Church Times Cup, we are able to resurrect some outing in the center, playing cricket. . .
