By David Nagel
BEACONSFIELD cricketer John Scales didn’t start playing cricket until his mid-thirties, but he’s certainly making up for lost time now.
Scales, 61, was recently selected to represent Australia in a Test series against a touring England team in the emerging sport of over-60s cricket.
And he couldn’t be happier.
“From a personal point of view I’m just chuffed and proud to be doing this. The series is gaining in esteem and you can really hold your head up high,” Scales said.
“It’s like being the new kid on the block again, getting acknowledgement for your efforts from good players is fantastic – it’s like you’ve got to earn your stripes again.”
Speaking of stripes, Scales is a mad Richmond supporter which not only blends in nicely playing for the Beaconsfield Tigers but also has special meaning to the number 29 that sits proudly on his Cricket Australia cap.
“It signifies that I’m the 29th player to represent Australia in over-60s cricket, there was a group of us inducted at the same time so I could have had a different number but 29 was KB’s (Kevin Bartlett) number,” he said.
There’s certainly no shortage of cricket for Scales these days, he plays on Saturdays for the undefeated Beaconsfield in D Grade of the WGCA and plays most Sundays for either the Tigers in the DDCA over-35s or captains Casey in the over-60s.
He keeps himself fit by going to the gym at least three times a week and is a regular swimmer. He describes himself as a hard-hitting batsman who still has pretty good reflexes.
Scales is reluctant to talk up his impressive recent form with the willow. In over-60s, batsmen need to retire at 40 runs and it’s not pumping up Scales’ tyres too much to say he achieves that more often than not.
In 2006/2007 he achieved one of his sporting goals by winning his first premiership in the WGCA C Grade with his beloved Tigers but this representing your country thing might even top that.
“It’s a feel good story; this type of cricket is easily the fastest growing in the world,” Scales said. “It’s just great to be involved with blokes with similar interests to yourself and a game that you love. It’s so easy to just sit back and let the days go by but everyone involved is out there having a go. We’ve all got our little complaints and some are still pretty competitive but all in all it’s just great to be involved in this type of cricket.”
Scales has been super impressed by the way the English play and treat the game.
“Over there they have a real pathway through the ages, they play over-40s, over-50s, over-60s, and over-70s, whereas we don’t have that here, it’s something we are pushing for,” he said. “It’s really blown me away how professional the England side has been. They’ve got people doing stats on how the game is played, where most of the runs are being scored in a day and they set fields to suit, they play the percentages very well.
“They’ve brought over a 38-man touring squad for the series, for them it’s such a great honour and an achievement to represent their country. “We’re just starting out, the honour is there but the achievement of making the team is probably not the same as the English at the moment.”
Any cricketers out there who want to dust off the creams and play in the over-60s competition can contact Scales on 0416 042 796.
