Mindblowing England Call-Up for Barton
"You're just in the bubble, any sports person will tell you that. You just do what you do and presumably if you're doing well maybe you get a chance, if there is a chance to promote you go on. That's what's happened to me."
Being selected to represent one's country in any sport is a significant honour. While many associate international sports representation with younger athletes, Ian Barton, at 62 years old, is preparing to represent England in the Over-60s Cricket World Cup in Canada, rather than in football.
"I fly out on 5 August with a 16-man squad to try and win the World Cup,"he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"I've got back into cricket for Lancashire and obviously loving it. I'm doing OK, scoring quite a few runs so I'm enjoying doing what I do."
Barton acknowledges that his progression to playing for England in a World Cup has been rapid.
"This time two years ago I was batting low down in the second team for Lancashire Over-60s and two years hence, I've captained the England Lions a few weeks ago,"he added.
"And now I've been picked for the England main team to go to the World Cup, so it's all a bit mind-blowing I suppose."
Longstanding Cricket Career and Club Involvement
Born in Blackburn, Barton has a long history with cricket, having played for Longridge Cricket Club's first team for 37 years, from 1981 to 2018. His involvement with the club extended beyond playing, as he served as chairman and more recently as vice-president.
Although he stepped back from senior men's cricket on Saturdays to allow younger players opportunities, Barton returned to cricket at a senior level and was pleasantly surprised by his continued performance.
"You're in an environment that you've always loved with people that think the same as you,"he explained.
"I didn't want to play any more on a Saturday [in senior men's cricket] because I'm stopping a younger man playing cricket and without younger men you've no cricket club in years to come.
But just to be able to play again and surprise myself actually. I have surprised myself to a degree of how many runs I've got and how I've done."
Upcoming Over-60s Cricket World Cup in Canada
England's squad will spend 20 days in Canada for the Over-60s Cricket World Cup. The team will begin their trip with a practice match against Canada, followed by matches against Scotland, West Indies, Zimbabwe, United States, India, and New Zealand. The tournament will conclude with semi-finals and a potential final.
Beyond the competition itself, Barton highlights the positive impact that returning to cricket has had on his mental well-being.
"It's the banter and everything in a dressing room and that's what you miss. You miss the game, in a way. You miss the atmosphere, the banter, the craic in the dressing room,"he said.
"It's just the same when you've got a load of guys the same age as you as it was when you were 20-odd, because they were 20-odd back then weren't they?
It just gives you a new lease of life. I'm doing a lot of travelling with Lancashire and with England. You don't mind it because you could be driving that for a job but you're driving to play a sport that you love and people that you get on great with.
Mentally it is the best thing ever. At my age now to still do this is just mind-blowing really."
