It's cricket with fun at its core ... and no olds barred

When the former fast bowler first picked up a cricket ball, the world was on the brink of war and Yorkshire went on to win the county championship with players such as Len Hutton and Hedley Verity.

On the other side of the world, on the Caribbean island of Tobago, the seven-year-old Edwards was trying to get the hang of fast bowling.

Seventy years on and the bowling might not be as quick as it once was but his knowledge of the game could rival that of Geoffrey Boycott or Sir Ian Botham.

The modest Mr Edwards, a retired schoolteacher, found himself the centre of attention yesterday for being the oldest among hundred veteran cricketers who have descended on North Yorkshire from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, the USA and Japan to take part in the Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival.

A player with British Columbia – he emigrated to Canada in 1953 – Mr Edwards scored eight runs yesterday and impressed with his bowling against Ouseburn Silver Line at Ouseburn Cricket Club, one of 29 grounds playing host to the clubs from all points on the compass.

Mr Edwards said: "I really enjoy coming here to England. This is the ninth or tenth time I have been over for cricket.

"I love it here; everyone is friendly and nice. This is a very good ground, very flat. It's a bit cloudy but this is similar weather to Vancouver.

"I have never played before in Yorkshire. I have played in Lancashire, Devon, Cornwall, Kent and Surrey.

"The first time I was over here was in 1969. I have been playing cricket now for 71 years. After I retired I went back to Trinidad and coached cricket."

At 78 he finds his cricket is not as fast paced as it once was.

"I use my experience, my head, more than my body. I used to be a fast bowler, but now I am not so fast," he joked.

"I just make sure I keep a length and a line. My bowling is not as good as it should be."

Although he did not take a wicket yesterday, he did make a creditable eight runs, including one boundary, before he was bowled by a ball he was expecting to face any moment.

"I wanted to be bowled a full toss and I got one. I missed it and it knocked down the stump. I haven't batted for over a year," he said, admitting that he was "more of a bowler than a batsman".

Watching from the boundary was Mark Tankard, vice chairman of Ouseburn Cricket Club, who said the Oldies tournament was played in a spirit of fun.

"Lloyd did some bowling and, for his age, was incredibly good. The guy must have been good in his form years. He was a steady bowler and knew where to put the ball," he said.

The tournament brought 800 players and officials to Harrogate's hotels from teams with names such as Gladstone Muddies, Karaka Stallions, Binnies Buddies, Toronto Lumberjacks and Ringwood Possums.

This year's event has players aged between 40 and 78 and the oldest 11 players have a combined age of 813 years.

In addition to the three days of cricket at 29 grounds across North Yorkshire – from Arthington to West Tanfield, the week culminates in a farewell dinner for 1,000 people on the showground at Harrogate.

The organisers have estimated that the tournament has brought in an extra 1m to the economy.

This is the first time it has been held in the North of England, having previously been held in Brighton and Birmingham.

Where experience shows its value

The Golden Oldies tournament caters for cricketers over 40 who meet every two years at locations across the globe.

The inaugural festival was held in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1984 and has since been staged in Brisbane, Cape Town, Brighton, Vancouver, Birmingham, Christchurch, Queenstown and Sri Lanka.

The organisers, Nidderdale Amateur Cricket League, have secured the services of Ray Illingworth as the festival ambassador.

The former England captain and Yorkshire all-rounder will be touring grounds to meet some of those taking part.

The event began Sunday and ends on August 15.