With the Cricket World Cup underway and an Ashes series to look forward to later in the summer, Midsomer Norton Cricket Club welcomes an Australian touring team to Withies Lane at the beginning of next month.

On Monday, 1st July, the club hosts a fixture between the Australian and Somerset Over-60s cricket teams as part of the Australians’ 2019 tour. While they are in the UK, the Australians are hoping to win back the ‘Grey Ashes’ in a three-match, one-day series against England. The Aussies also take on Pakistan in a one-day international.

Midsomer Norton’s Ian Locke and Graham Poulton are regular members of the Somerset side, and Graham already has a half-century to his name this season. Graham is looking forward to taking on England’s oldest cricketing foe and expects the contest to be as tough as one would expect.

Graham said: “Having been associated with the Club for many years it is great that such a match can be played at Withies Lane. I played against the Australians on their last tour and it will be good to renew some rivalries again, knowing that the match will be played hard and Somerset will have to play well to win.”

The Australians are represented by a strong and experienced side. The Captain is Mark Gaskell, who played Sheffield Shield cricket for Queensland and played against some of cricket’s greatest names, including Sir Vivian Richards, Michael Holding and Bishen Bedi. The rest of the squad have played top-level grade and club cricket in Australia.

Midsomer Norton has hosted representative fixtures for the Somerset Women’s and Somerset Over-60s sides in recent seasons, and hosting a game involving an Australian touring side is further recognition that, with the right facilities, the club can provide a venue for quality cricket matches and teams.

Club Chairman, Graeme King, believes that the quality of the pitch and ground, courtesy of hardworking groundsman, Phil Mortimer, and his team, and the decision to build new changing facilities and refurbish the clubhouse can only help the club get more such fixtures in future seasons.

The new changing and ground facilities are already being enjoyed by all Senior Men’s and Women’s Teams and our ever-growing Youth section on a Friday evening, with parents and friends enjoying the clubhouse facilities.

Somerset Over-60s meet the Australian Over-60s at Withies Lane on Monday, 1st July, starting at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Charlie Matthews