In the decade that followed, the Southern Masters became the Last Over XI (LOXI) - the playing arm of the Australian Cricket Society. Peter Hay organised another Hobart-based team, Thylacines, and other teams extending to Marrawah in the far north west and Foresters at Scottsdale joined in. Matches from Dover to Low Head became the norm into the new century.

Since then the number of teams has continued to grow – Lone Star, Midlands Polecats, Lotus, Square Cuts, Devonport Wanderers, West Ulverstone Rovers, Bruny Island Penguins, Weymouth, West Tamar, Port Sorell Sharks, Judbury have all featured, some of them regularly, others for just a few games each season. Generally, there was no age restriction – simply “seniors” which more or less suggested Over 40s – although it was not unusual to come across teenagers, even three generations of the same family playing together. Not all of these clubs are still active, but roster developments including age-restricted matches, inter-regional representative and pre-Championship trial games, along with the advent of Over 40s, is resulting in others coming onto the scene.

Three recent initiatives have further increased the level of interest in veterans cricket across the state.

Firstly, a playing field at Ross not used for football or cricket for a decade was transformed to become the base for Veterans Cricket Tasmania. VC Tasmania’s Ross Project Manager, Rod Headlam, received great support from the Northern Midlands Council and Ross Community Sports Club, as well as the veterans cricket clubs and community, to establish three new turf wickets and upgraded facilities in just 10 weeks.

The ground was transformed from this…

… to this. Volunteer curator Paul Eyre preparing the wicket
for the start of the 2021-22 Season

The Social side of Veterans Cricket - Roger, Riley and Nick Steel. Grandfather Roger won out this time

Due to its centrality, the quality of the pitch and all of the extras that the locals provide, Ross quickly became a highly sought-after venue and hosted 12 games in 2020/21, its first full season.
In November, 2022, Ross will host 4 games in the Over 70s National Championships. None of this would be possible without the time and effort put into pitch and ground curation by two enthusiastic Ross volunteers, Paul Eyre and Steve Robinson, assisted by VCTas working bees and other local volunteers when the need arises. Ross continues to be developed and is central to the future growth of the veterans game in the state.

Ross Gala Weekend of Cricket
16-17 January 2021

Overshadowing the Australia v India test match, the ‘Macquarie Mowers’ and ‘Ross Rollers’ faced off for bragging rights as the winning team of the first match in almost a decade on the re-developed Ross turf wicket and oval complex on Saturday 16 January 2021.

The teams were primarily made up of volunteer veteran helpers and supporters of the re-development project.

The day began at 11am with an official welcome, insertion of the stumps & opening by Ben Smith, General Manager Community Cricket, Cricket Tasmania.

The 35 over match began at 12 noon and conclude at 4pm with post-match celebrations at the Ross Community Sports Club.

On Sunday 17 January, the first Veterans Cricket Tasmania competition match was played on the new turf wicket between the ‘Thylacinians’ (with members from all parts of the State) and West Ulverstone ‘Rovers’.

See full report for Ross Gala Weekend of Cricket

Ross Project Manager Rod Headlam

Secondly, on Anzac Day, 2021, Ross hosted the first Veterans Women’s representative match between Northern and Southern teams. This was the culmination of two years’ hard work to get veterans cricket for Women up and running by Women’s Coordinator Lynn Hendley. While the Southerners won that match easily, the 2022 re-match was a very close affair and augers well for Tasmania’s appearance at Veteran Cricket Australia’s inaugural National Women’s Championships.

And thirdly, the announcement of the Association’s first major sponsor, Tasmanian Botanics in mid-2022, has the potential to impact on veterans cricket at all levels across the state. Craig Knight’s generous financial support provides us with the opportunity to;

• Promote the game more widely and to

• Investigate the possibility of setting up new clubs.

• Subsidise representative uniforms.

• Support ongoing development of our facilities at Ross.