Greg Tideman is about to live the dream and be handed a coveted baggy green – all at the tender age of 60.
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The Wallabadah wicketkeeper batsmen has been selected to represent Australia in the over 60 cricket side to tour South Africa.
Tideman hit the veterans rep scene with a flourish last September at the National Championships playing for NSW in Maroochydore.
Over the four games the opening bat scored 230-plus runs at an average of 82, including two not outs.
In over 60s cricket a batsmen must retire at 40, but can return to the crease if everyone else is out.
His NSW team beat Victoria Country in the final, with another unbeaten 40 a highlight of the match.
He also impressed with the gloves and was selected for the highest honour a cricketer of any age can receive.
Tideman played grade cricket in Brisbane when he was younger but couldn’t quite crack the representative scene.
“I had my eyes done about five years ago and it has made the world of
difference.”
Once he could see the ball properly, Tideman has been a force in Quirindi District Cricket for Wallabadah.
There is something in the water out there, and ASADA could be interested in this.
Tideman will join eight others from the Quirindi district in the NSW Country Over 60 team to play at the Gold Coast in March.
Eight of them are actually from
Wallabadah!
And three of them have played for Australia before.
“I don’t know how it happened,” Tideman said.
“It is a great coincidence.”
The nine players will go to Queensland to contest the State of Origin series against Qld City and Country, and NSW City.
The nine are Tideman, John Lobsey, Ray Bastian, Terry Cohen, Jim Stewart, Graham England, Maurie Hamilton, Dennis Moran, and Rick Sampson.
“We all have a great time playing for Wallaby,” Tideman said.
“The testosterone is gone and we have brilliant fun. The opposition never know how to sledge a team that never stops sledging themselves.”
Tideman will be out to impress again at the Gold Coast for another chance at an Australian tour, this time to England.
“To play at Lord’s is the epitome of cricket,” Tideman said. Wallabadah’s answer to Adam Gilchrist flew out to South Africa yesterday for the four and a half week tour.
They will play 23 games in 27 days.
“I am so excited and honoured to go.”
“This is the stuff you dream about your whole life.”
