International Over-50s cricket will be coming to Marlborough in March 2024 with confirmation that New Zealand will host a key tournament ahead of next Over-50s Cricket World Cup.

Blenheim's Horton Park will be the venue for the Quad Series involving New Zealand Over 50s, New Zealand Over 50s 'A', Australia Over 50s and USA Over 50s from March 13–18, with each team playing each other once before a Finals round.

Australia and the USA will also play other matches in the South Island during their tour; with the full schedule to be announced by the NZ Over 50s committee in due course.

The Quad Series should be a very closely fought tournament. New Zealand and USA both reached the semi-finals of the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-50s World Cup in Cape Town in March this year, and both sides had very tight games with Australia in round-robin play.

Parak Ananta, the director of Masters Cricket USA and a former captain of the USA Over-50s, is looking forward to playing “good competitive cricket at top-class venues against tough oppositions.

“We had the opportunity to make some wonderful friends from Australia and New Zealand at the World Cup in Cape Town, and we are looking forward to more friendships and a lifetime of memories.”

Andrew Knight from Veterans Cricket Australia agreed. “To play in a Quad Series against the USA and New Zealand on some top-class grounds will be a wonderful experience," he said.

The Quad Series will come at the end of a very busy over-50s season that also includes the national Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) in Queenstown in January 2024, and NZ A and NZ B teams competing in the Australian National Championships in December 2023.

Says New Zealand Over-50s Cricket Director Jim Morrison, “We have a bumper season coming up in 2023/24, with a number of tours and tournaments going on.

"This Quad Series will be the culmination of the season and we are going to do our best to make it a great event for all involved.

"We are really excited to welcome our Aussie and American friends for this series.”

The "New Zealand A" concept started last season, when NZ A and NZ B teams competed in the Australian National Championships, and they have been invited back to the same tournament this year.

It provides more opportunity for local players to be gain experience at a higher level.

Horton Park has previously hosted New Zealand Inter-Provincials at both over-50s and over-40s level.

The ground is renowned for providing good pitches, with both IPTs having witnessed several 300-plus scores.

Blenheim is in the heart of the Marlborough wine country region, which is famous for its food and wine tourism and scenery, so there will be plenty for players and supporters to do when they aren’t playing cricket.

Marlborough Cricket General Manager Ed Gilhooly said, “This will be a fantastic event for our local cricket community, and we look forward to welcoming the USA, Australia and NZ teams.”

All three international teams will be looking to finalise their combinations ahead of the IMC Over-50s World Cup which will be held in Sri Lanka, later in 2024.

Article added: Saturday 17 June 2023