RICHIE Wyld’s over-40s Cricket World Cup journey begins on Monday.
The Mildura Settlers legend, who was born and raised in England, earned selection for Australia’s 16-man squad to tackle the International Masters Cricket event in Cape Town, South Africa.
The opening game for the Aussies comes against the US on Monday 10am in Cape Town, equivalent of 7pm AEDT.
The three-time Innes Medal winner and multiple-time Setts premiership player first earned the honour of wearing the over-40s Baggy Green when he competed in the first Trans-Tasman series in New Zealand earlier this month.
Wyld, who grew up in Nottingham and played Notts Country second XI cricket before heading to Sunraysia, previously admitted the concept of playing for Australia was strange but it’s an opportunity he’s ready to take with both hands.
It won’t be the first time Wyld has competed in a World Cup in Cape Town as he represented his home nation in the Indoor Cricket World Cup in 2000 in the same location.
Australia features in Group A alongside England, US, Canada, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while Group B consists of South Africa, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Wales and UAE.
After five rounds, with matches beginning on February 19, the top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals before the final two teams meet in the decider on March 1.
