MARK Gribble is poised to make his England Over-50s’debut in tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) one-day international against India at Loughborough.

Gribble, Devon’s Over-50s’skipper, is still playing regularly in the Tolchards DCL and earlier this season was caretaker captain of the 1st XI in the absence of Robin Fern.

His form with bat and ball in last season’s ECB Over-50s National Championship, which Devon reached the semi-finals of, caught the attention of the England selectors.

Gribble took 14 wickets at an average between 10 and 11– including a five-wicket haul against Staffordshire – and averaged more than 20 with the bat. 

Gribble will be following in the bowling footmarks of his great friend Derek Lammonby, who played for England Over-50s last season. The Chudleigh all-rounder appeared in two non-international games.

Wife Helen and son Oliver will be on the boundary at Loughborough cheering Gribble on.

Mike Canning, the chairman of Devon Seniors CC, said:  I am sure you will all join me in sending Mark our warmest congratulations, and wish him the best of luck on his debut, hoping that it is the start of great things for him.”

Gribble, who will be 53 later this month, has played for more than 35 years in the Tolchards DCL. In 2002 he was the first Bovey Tracey captain to win the Devon Premier Division and went on to play for Torquay, Chagford and Exeter sides.

He played nine times for the Devon county side between 1997-2002 and represented British Universities in 1989 while a student at the University of East Anglia.