International Masters Cricket chairman Stirling Hamman says he is delighted with the direction Veterans Cricket around the world is taking.
The Australian was a regular around the fields during the recently-completed Over-50s World Cup in Cape Town, and he would have left these shores a very happy man given the progress this format of the game has made in such a short space of time.
“It’s been fabulous … the grounds were great, the staff were fabulous, the players bought into it, and the people of Cape Town bought into it,” he said. “One of the greatest cities in the world playing the greatest game of all time, so why wouldn’t you be happy?
“The best measuring stick is how the standard overall has gone up. And it hasn’t just gone up in one or two countries, it’s gone up overall.
"A couple of things you notice this time is that the players are fitter, the fielding is better, the running between the wickets is quicker, and when you see a player like [Zimbabwe batsman] Murray Goodwin play, you just think “Wow, he never lost it!”
"Those countries who are lucky enough to have some ex-Test or First-Class players, they have come on in leaps and bounds because those guys bring a lot of know-it-all to the game, and that improves everybody. They set the standard for everyone to come up to.”
England beat South Africa by 65 runs in the final at the iconic Newlands Cricket Ground on Monday.
Final Standings:
1.England
2.South Africa
3.New Zealand
4.USA
5.Pakistan
6.Zimbabwe
7.Sri Lanka
8.India
9.West Indies
10.Wales
11.Canada
12.UAE
13.Australia
14.Namibia
The 2023 Over-50s Cricket World Cup will once again be sponsored by Evergreen Lifestyle, South Africa’s premium retirement brand with seven operating villages in the Western Cape and Gauteng, and a further six in the pipeline. The business began with a vision to change the retirement landscape in South Africa, offering a partnership for life based on five key pillars: physical security, financial peace of mind, continuous care, a sense of community and exceptional hospitality.
You’ll find Evergreen’s award-winning retirement villages in the most beautiful parts of the country, at the end of sun dappled country lanes, perched on majestic mountain slopes, and within walking distance of our beaches, rivers, and wetlands. And you’ll find vibrant fun-loving communities enjoying the finer things in life – like good food, great company, lasting friendships, and a sense of belonging that is enabled by the resort-style facilities and amenities on offer.