Punchard's pride at Ashes call-up

YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE . . . . John Punchard, who will play in this summer's over-60s Ashes series, with his Crompton under-11s team at Glebe Street

JOHN Punchard boasts a long list of achievements on the local cricket scene - but they've all been topped by his latest accolade.

For he can now be labelled an England international after he was chosen for this summer's over-60s Ashes series against the touring Australian side.

Punchard turns 60 on July 2, two weeks before the three-match contest gets under way at Westhoughton.

"It's brilliant. I'm made up," said the Crompton batsman, who has scored more than 20,000 runs in a long and distinguished first XI career.

"FANTASTIC"
"I get a cap, blazer with the Three Lions, everything - it's fantastic.

"This sits right at the very top of what I've done over the years.

"I played first-team cricket against some of the game's finest players when they appeared in the CLL and was a professional in the Bradford League - and this has come so near the end of my career as well."

Punchard was nominated by the county association.

He represents Lancashire over-60s who can field two 'under age' players per competition rules.

He took part in two England trials, and in the second at Kidderminster he was 'called in' after scoring 53.

He is in a squad of 16 players - 10 of which are existing members who won the Ashes Down Under in the winter, plus six newbies.

Venues for the three-match series are being staged in the North-West (Westhoughton July 16), Midlands (July 23, Kidderminster) and South (July 29, Salisbury).

Punchard is not the only England player chosen with connections to Oldham.

He added: "I expect there will be a few nerves as it's something very new.

"Fortunately, I know a couple of the other players in the squad.

"Murphy Walwyn played as a professional for Royton in the 1980s. I also played alongside him at East Bierley in the Bradford League.

"The captain, John Foster, was a youngster at Saddleworth and Werneth. The last time I saw him was more than 40 years ago!"

Punchard, who also coaches the under-11s at Crompton as well as featuring at weekends for the Glebe Street club's second XI, made his debut in the old Central Lancashire League in 1973.

He helped Royton claim the CLL title in 1980 and won the Wood Cup with Middleton in 2001.