New Zealand Over 70s Cricket Team Introduction & Player Profiles
As a country of only five million people, New Zealand cricket has a smaller talent pool compared with many countries, but this has never stopped Kiwi sides playing well above their perceived standing. Led by experienced age-group all-rounder, and former first class rugby player, Bevin Guthrie, this side is looking to replicate that mantra.
With two former first class cricketers, John Cushen and Paul Facoory, in the side, along with several former Over 60s New Zealand representatives, the team couples this experience with a well-balanced make-up.
Veterans Cricket is as much about competition as it is enjoyment and this side will embrace both these components equally, ever mindful that it is the ‘spirit of the game’ that defines a side more than the results.
Bevin Guthrie (Captain)
A right-hand bat and spin bowler, joined Veterans Cricket in 2017. Represented N.Z. in Over 60s and Over 70s cricket. Played first class rugby for Otago. Played badminton and golf. Refereed first class rugby and continues to umpire cricket. Retired sheep and beef farmer, who enjoys travelling with partner, Suzi.
Rob Craig
A batting allrounder and an all-of-life cricket tragic. A typical New Zealand sportsman, he has played many sports including a late midlife crisis in multisport and now a golf addict. Slowly retiring after a long business life in all parts of the NZ kiwifruit industry.
John Cushen
A right arm medium pace bowler whose first class career was from 1968 – 1987. Recently he has played four years for the NZ Over 60s sides in the Australasian tournaments. When not working as a tourism advisor, he loves boating, fishing, tramping, gardening, keeping fit and work associated with being a government appointed Fiordland Marine Guardian.
Morris Dawson
A right hand bowler and batsman. Has represented Central Districts in Over 60s and New Zealand. Plays for the Club Kapiti Old Boys. Interests include family and reading.
Paul Facoory
Paul is a right-hand opening batsman and played first class cricket for his Otago province in NZ and played against notable international touring teams including Australia, England, and Pakistan. Paul captained the NZ over 60s team in their first ever test match win over Australia. A natural tenor, Paul has also performed many roles in grand opera, music theatre and oratorio.
Sunitha Goonetilleke
Right-arm seam bowler, right-hand mid-lower order batsman. Represented Air Ceylon in the Nationalised Services in Sri Lanka and captained the SriLankan team “Sinha” in Oman’s first division. He has represented the SriLankan CC in Auckland since 1989, in several grades. He is a New Zealand and Auckland over 60s and over 70s selection.
Peter Nixon
Bowling allrounder. Right-hand bowler and batsman. Represented NZ at secondary school and Under 20 levels. Recent years have been playing NZ over 60s and 70s. Married with 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Interests include technology where it can improve lifestyle, programming, hiking, trail biking and general fitness.
Tony Penny
A wicketkeeper and left-hand batsman. He is a former international rugby player (Hong Kong) and first class rugby player in New Zealand (Canterbury). He is also a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand (Civil) practising as a transportation engineer. His key interests include thoroughbred horse breeder and racing owner plus his four children and nine grandchildren.
Allan Pond
A right hand batsman, part-time left arm slow-medium bowler. Selected for Canterbury Schoolboys (mid-1960s), he also represented Marlborough as a wicketkeeper (Hawke Cup etc) in the late 1970s.He is a NZ Over 60s (2016-18) and NZ Over 70s (2022-24) rep He has also represented Marlborough and Wanganui in cue sports and enjoys theatre, travelling and watching most sports.
John Renshaw
Right hand batsman, bowler and wicketkeeper. New Zealand Over 60s and 70s rep. After 40 years as a farmer and skilled shearer, including 300 ewes in a day, he loves travelling to play cricket and tasting good food, beer and wine.
Lance Ryan
Continuous cricket for the last 60 years. Made a career change in 2017 when selected for Canterbury over 60s for NZ national tournament. Manager of NZ Over 60s at first World Cup. Six years representing NZ at 0ver 60s Australian Championships and now moved into over 70s division with selection to Australia last year. Active all-rounder who bats left hand and bowls right hand.
Rod Smith
A left-handed opening batsman and former medium paced bowler, Rod is normally found in the outfield as he can still throw. Having played for the same Club for over 65 years he is President and a Life Member of the Parnell Cricket Club. Rod has played competitively in over 12 countries. A Sabah State representative in Malaysia and NZ Over 60s representative and former captain, he is currently in the NZ Over 65s and Over 70s teams.
Evan Watkin
Right-hand batter, right-arm medium bowler. A former International umpire, he umpired First-Class cricket for 24 seasons umpiring 135 First-Class matches including 3 Test matches, 177 List A games including 23 ODIs, 38 T20s including 3 T20 Internationals. He also umpired at the first Over-60s World Cup in September 2022. In his spare time he researches and updates the Cricket Archive website and spends as much time as possible with his family including 6 grandchildren.
Jeremy Wilson
Jeremy is Chairman New Zealand Veterans Cricket. He is a right hand bat, and off spin bowler. He has played in the NZ Over 50s, 60s (7 years in NZ team) now 70s team. He is also a current seniors provincial tennis representative. One of five boys, four have represented NZ in various sports. Other interests include hiking and farming.
Stan (Stephen) Woolliscroft
A right hand leg spinner, he has played sport on a global scale. A NZ Over 60s, 70s cricket rep, he has played for Papua New Guinea in the ICC Trophy, in Kenya,1995; Malaysia Masters Six aside; and Hawke Cup for Counties, Otago Country and Rangitikei. In Football he played the PNG Masters World Games 1997 and NZ National League for Christchurch United and New Brighton AFC while in athletics he attended the Nauru South Pacific Games 1981. Other sporting interests include golf tennis, pickleball , gym, futsal and cycling.
Carl Wright
Right-handed bat and slow left arm bowler. Represented his school and district of Horowhenua in eight different sports before concentrating more on cricket and rugby. Played London NZ cricket for 14 years, nine as captain, and has also captained Northern Districts Over 70s. NZ Over 70s member since 2019.
John Durning (Manager)
Reconnected with cricket two years ago after a 30-year hibernation. Played Hawke Cup eliminations for South Canterbury (1978-80), Canterbury Over 60s and NZ Over 70s to Australia. Right hand bat and slow bowler. Other active interests include golf, touch rugby, yoga and pilates along with racehorse ownership and following the share market. Proud poppa of six grandchildren.
Peter Williams (NZ) Umpire
Played 21 consecutive seasons of representative cricket at District Association level for Canterbury Country. Member of the First-class Umpiring Panel for six seasons, culminating in umpiring at the 2000 Women’s World Cup. Umpired many Veterans Tournaments including two Over 60s World Cups at the Sunshine Coast and Chennai.
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