Veterans promote spirit of the game

Veterans cricket enjoys massive growth in Toowoomba region

TOP SHOT: Toowoomba Grey Cavaliers batsman Ian Reimers plays a shot during his side's over-60s match against Sunshine Coast. Picture: Kevin Farmer

CRICKET: Veterans cricket in Toowoomba has had a massive popularity spike in the past year.

Last year Ian Reimers formed the Toowoomba Grey Cavaliers who played in Division 2 of the Queensland Veterans Cricket Championships.

Now the Grey Cavaliers' four teams are competing in various competitions.

Reimers attributed the growth to the spirit in which the game was played.

"We have blokes in the team who played against each other in Toowoomba for years,” he said.

"Now they're best mates playing alongside each other and enjoying the game.”

That spirit was shared by everyone involved in the competition.

"When we watch a lot of local grade cricket you see the two teams sitting well apart,” Reimers said.

"In veterans the teams are always close together, everyone is having a great time and there's usually a fair bit of laughing and joking going on.

"It's a great competition because you can play at a level you can enjoy.

"We've got blokes that love to play in the normal competition but there's always something extra on offer.

"There are Cavaliers players that been named in Ashes teams to face England squads and travelled all around Australia to compete.

"It's really up to you how seriously you take the game.”

Grey Cavaliers sides have played three games this season without a win.

They won Division 2 last year without dropping a game.

Originally published as Veterans promote spirit of the game