Club chair stars in over 70s Cricket World Cup win

Mick Kenyon was part of the England over 70s cricket team that beat Australia in this year's World Cup

A club cricketer from York has played a vital role in England's over 70s team winning the World Cup.

Michael Kenyon, 72, was part of the veterans' squad that beat Australia in the final of the competition on 11 August.

The bowler was the only northern representative in the side after being selected from an open trial.

The chair of Dringhouses Cricket Club, who has played the sport for 55 years, said the tournament was "well organised" despite the travelling involved.

The World Cup also featured teams from Wales, Canada, India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Mr Kenyon, a former Dringhouses 1st XI captain who also plays for Yorkshire Over 70s, told BBC Radio York: “I had to go to a couple of trial matches which were in Worcestershire and based on how good you were, you got onto the England team, which I was fortunate enough to do. I got an email saying I'd been selected and it all took off from there.

“I was the only person from the north of England, which was a bit awkward for me as it meant an awful lot of travelling for me and my wife Diane going down there.”

Two English cricketers, Chris Lowe and Chris Watkin, and Australian player Murray Goodwin organised the competition in nine months.

Mick Kenyon said the tournament was “very well organised”

Mr Kenyon said: “Logistically they did a fantastic job organising hotels, grounds and food for us as it was all very well organised.

“The teams first played each other and then the top two teams got to play each other in the final, which ended up being us and Australia - even though we lost our first match to them due to the rain.

“I felt honoured to walk onto the pitch and hopefully I’ll get to play in the next World Cup too.”

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