Suffolk duo selected for Over-65s side

April 20, 2026

TWO Suffolk cricketers have been selected for the East of England side in a new regional Over-65s competition.

Colin Walters and Kevin Dobson will play for the East versus the South-East in their inaugural match at Canterbury’s Polo Farm ground in a 45-over fixture on Thursday.

They have both been included in a 20-man squad, which will be skippered by ex-Cambridgeshire captain Nigel Gadsby, and drawn from players across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Former Suffolk Over-60s captain Walters will also manage the side, who will play five matches this summer to see if they can qualify for the final.

The 68-year-old said: “It’s a great honour to be named player-manager and I hope I can repay it with a competitive team that performs well in this inaugural competition.”

Plans are afoot to introduce an international Over-65s tournament in the spring of next year, likely to be staged in Sri Lanka.

“International Masters Cricket, the overseeing body for international Seniors cricket, are introducing 45s, 55s and 65s into international cricket.

“As more people are playing longer, those playing international cricket get younger!

“There are not too many 65-pluses playing over-60s and not many 75 pluses playing over-70s cricket” said Walters, who plays his club cricket at Sudbury.

Dobson, who has been a member of Bury St Edmunds CC for more than half-a-century, plays for the club’s 4th XI as well as Suffolk Over-60s.

He previously represented Suffolk at Colts and under-25s level as well as playing a few matches for the county’s National Cricket Association XI but never featured in the full Minor Counties side.

Dobson, now 68, said: “The nearest I got was going to Lincolnshire as 12th man. Cayles (captain Phil Caley) tried to get me on during the second day as a substitute fielder.

“I trotted on to the field at point, before the umpire asked the Lincs captain if he had given permission for Suffolk to use a sub. He said no, so I got sent off!”

Dobson, who also played league representative games for the Suffolk League and Two Counties, started playing for Suffolk Over-50s when he turned 50 and then switched to over-60s when he hit the qualifying age.

He said: “I am ⁠really looking forward to playing for the East of England side. I feel I am very lucky to still be playing at a reasonable level at my age.

“I was a 19-year-old opening bowler when I played my first county game for the Colts. I can’t bowl now due to numerous shoulder injuries, so have to make do with being a middle-order bat.”

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