Alex has been playing for Kings Hill since 2016, initially for the 1st XI, before an injury limited his cricket for a couple of seasons. He returned in 2022, mainly playing for the 2nd XI. He averages 55 in league cricket overall for the club.

Alex heads to Colombo on the 5th of February and we’re all looking forward to following his, and England’s, progress in Sri Lanka - hopefully leading to the final on the 23rd!

What’s your route been to get to the tournament?

I made my Over 50s debut in 2023 against the USA. I had a knee operation the year before and had all but given up playing again, but the op was successful enough to get me back out on the field in 2023 for both Essex Over 50s and England Over 50s.

I did ok and continued in decent but not outstanding form in 2024. What clinched selection for the World Cup squad however wasn’t a performance for England, but a knock of 96 for Essex over 50s against the touring Australia over 50s team. I then followed this up with 72 the following week against India and then closed out a couple of potentially awkward games against Wales.

The team wasn’t picked until late in September, it was a massive relief and great honour to be included.

What have you been doing to prepare for the tournament?

One of our team is an ex-services full-time personal trainer. He has had us on a series of training programs to build strength and endurance, which we were expected to do at least three times a week.
We have then had periodic training camps at Edgbaston, Marlborough College and lastly at Loughborough, which have been a mixture of netting, fielding and fitness testing. Time in the nets outside this has been difficult to arrange given the time of year and have driven as far as Slough to train with some of the Bucks and Middlesex boys along with a few of the Indian team. KHCC skipper Jake has also been really helpful in setting up a series of nets at Tonbridge School. And lastly, I’ve been doing a weekly pilates class. Zoe Goodman from Natural Body Works recommended it to me and it has been brilliant. I ache less and am way more mobile, I highly recommend it for anyone over 40!

What are you most looking forward to?

I'm just excited by the fact that at the age of 53 I'm able to play the game I love and have the chance to represent my country in a World Cup. Three years ago I was getting ready for a knee op. I was in daily pain and hugged the banister going downstairs in the morning. I’m now on the cusp of playing international cricket with some great lads, some of whom I’ve played with or against since the age of 16, while some I have only known a year or so. They are a great bunch, they've all been around the block, all love the game and are all as excited as I am about being on the ultimate middle-age cricketer’s tour.

How will we be able to follow the tournament?

All the games are covered on YouTube which you should be able to access via the England Seniors cricket channel. We also have our own commentator, which makes the coverage a bit more interesting.

What are the England fixtures?

7th Feb: Warm up game vs Sri Lanka
9th Feb vs Zimbabwe
12th Feb vs USA
13th Feb vs UAE
15th Feb vs Sri Lanka
17th Feb vs New Zealand
18th Feb vs Namibia
20th Feb Semi-Final and play-offs
22nd Feb Losing teams’ deciders
23rd Feb Final
25th Feb One-off Ashes ODI