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Former missionary becomes oldest ever debutant in International cricket

by Premier Journalist
Sally Barton cricket.jpg - Banner image

A 66-year-old sportswoman has claimed the title of oldest ever debutant in international cricket.

Sally Barton made her international debut in Gibraltar's second T20 international against Estonia, at the age of 66 and 334 days.

The wicket keeper, who caught the bug from her cricket mad father, has been living in the British oversees territory since lockdown when her husband Ian became the island’s Dean.

The grandparents are former missionaries with the church mission society, and spent ten years in the democratic republic of Congo, which was part of the reason they were attracted to living on The Rock.

The former lecturer in mathematics at the London School of Economics told Premier: “One of the reasons we came here was … we can see Africa out of our apartment window. So here in Gibraltar, we've got that looking back to Africa and remembering missionary days in Africa, which has been brilliant.”

The three-match series between ICC Associate members Gibraltar and Estonia - won 3-0 by the former - was the first time the British Overseas Territory had played a women's T20 international.

Barton told the BBC: “The words 'too old' just aren't in my vocabulary. I never thought I would play international cricket in my sixties, but it goes to show that you should not let anyone tell you it is time to stop playing sport.

“I might not be as fast as I used to be, but my endurance and everything is still there. My overriding memory of my debut, though, is the efforts of my team-mates to get that win.”

The grandmother of three said her Yorkshire-born Dad’s “idea of Heaven was going to the West Indies, watching the MCC on tour with a glass of rum in his hand.”

Her husband, meanwhile, “doesn't do sports”, she said, adding: “He can probably just about tell you how many players there are.”

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