A clunk, a shout, a cheer and England have beaten Australia. The celebrations are not as wild as you expect – no leaping on the keeper, no Stuart Broad laps of the outfield. Perhaps it’s because the game has long been heading to this conclusion: Australia are all out in the 43rd over, still 91 runs adrift. Perhaps it’s because the winners are taking care of their joints.
England’s over-70s team have absolutely dominated the three-match one-day international series – AKA the Silver Ashes. They won the first game at Castle Park in Colchester by 54 runs, thanks in no small part to a splendid 114 not out from their captain, John Evans, who was 71 in July. He was instrumental to the cause again at Wellington, top-scoring with 57 off 84 balls. Not bad for a man who waited more than six decades to make his international debut.
