SENIORS cricket officials are looking to bolster the ranks of players for next season with new two teams.

With the county's seniors cricket scene thriving, the organisers of the Shropshire Over 50s and Over 60s sides want to hear from any players interested in joining in with the fun.

In 2019 Shropshire will run second XIs in both Over 50s and Over 60s age groups taking part in national competitions

At the Seniors’ annual meeting it was agreed the Over 50s second XI will join the Southern Counties Senior Championship in a division that will see them play home and away against Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and across the border in Wales.

It was also agreed that the Over 60s would enter their second XI competition and they will be in a group which will see them play fixtures against Lancashire, Cheshire, Leicestershire and Yorkshire Ridings.

It comes on the growing success of the county’s first XI sides at both levels, with the Over 50s making the knockout stages of their competition in the last two years, while the Over 60s made their national final in 2017 and also qualified for the KO stages last season.

And it has also resulted in national recognition for Shropshire.

Over 60s skipper John Foster captained an England touring side to Australia while Over 50s opening bowler Calvin Priest was picked for the England Counties side which has just taken part in the first ever Over 50s World Cup in Australia and playing three One Day Internationals against the Aussies.

England made the semi-finals in the eight-team tournament where they were narrowly beaten by Pakistan, with Shifnal’s Calvin playing a major role with the ball in their progress through the competition.

Foster said: “Seniors cricket is thriving in Shropshire and Martin Chambers is doing a fantastic job bringing new players into the pool which is great to see.

“Things have grown steadily over the last 25 years so that now both our teams are very competitive within their respective groups, and there were sufficient players last season to enable the 2nd XIs to play some friendly fixtures. We have now decided to take another step forward and enter those sides in competitions.

“We want to hear from anyone who is interested in playing – regardless of who you have played for in the past.

"It is competitive but friendly cricket and a great social environment alongside people you will have probably known for years.

"It’s a great way to keep active and involved in the game.”

Clubs across Shropshire have been urged to provide details of anyone on their books who is either approaching or over 50 and eligible to join the squads for what looks set to be a busy programme of fixtures for the forthcoming season.

Anyone who is interested in joining the Over 50s team should contact administrator Martin Chambers by email at martin@thinkvideo.net or call 07837 773682.

To find out more about the getting involved with the Over 60s side, email administrator Andrew Clarke on andrew@morriscook.co.uk or call 07974 740004.