Roach to go for gold in Cape Town

STARTING his cricketing career at Sunshine Druids, then playing for cricket clubs in Geelong such as Bell Park, Guild, Lara, Alexander-Thomson, North Shore, Corio, and Newcomb & District, David Roach has captained and coached at practically every cricket club west of Melbourne.

Now, at age 54, the Newtown resident gets to live out his lifelong dream of representing his country wearing a baggy green, after being selected as the opening batsman in the Australian Cricket Team at the coming Over-50s World Cup in South Africa in March.

“When I got the call-up at the start of December, I felt a combination of excitement and a bit of relief, because I had missed the World Cup back in 2020 due to injury,” Roach said.

“All I’ve ever wanted to do since I started playing at the Over-50 level is make the World Cup.”

Roach just missed out on the inaugural Over-50s World Cup in Sydney back in 2018 but was a good chance to take to the field in the green and gold in 2020 before injuring his Achilles.

The injury, which still lingers in the back of Roach’s mind, took 18 months to get back to match-ready condition, and now he will take to the international stage for the first time in his life off the back of strong showings at the Tri Series last July in Brisbane and the Over 50s National Championships in Adelaide last November.

“I thought my opportunities to make this team had gone, it’s always regrettable going down with an injury, especially an Achilles at my age, but I’ve done a lot of work to get where I am today and the selectors saw,” he added.

“Now I get my chance.”

Presently serving as the president of the Geelong Over 50s Cricket Club, Roach said he would not be where he is today without the opportunities the local club provides in addition to the affect it has on men’s mental health.

“Men’s mental health is a real thing, a big thing not just for young men, but for us older blokes too and we like to think the club plays a big part getting men through those issues,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what level someone might be before joining, we’re open to anyone of any skill level, shape, size, or colour. Everybody is welcome at the Geelong Over 50’s Cricket Club.”

Roach will be the third player to represent Geelong at the Over-50s World Cup and will bat at the top of the order alongside Steve Mace.

“Steve and I have a great relationship, he’s a ripper bloke, even though he is from New South Wales, but we won’t hold that against him,” Roach joked.

“He’s a great bat, good communicator, and I’m looking forward to batting with him again.”

Roach heads to Perth on February 28 to meet the rest of the national side for a three-day training camp and practice match, before jetting off to Cape Town on March 3.

Australia, still defending world champions from 2018, will take on New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Canada, Sri Lanka and the UAE in Pool B.