Former county cricketers turn out for Julian’s 80th birthday bash Former Leicestershire wicketkeeper and county umpire Ray Julian will celebrate his 80th birthday with a match involving his own XI, which will include eight former county cricketers, as part of the Dumbleton Cricket Festival next weekend. Julian will be 80 on August 23 and he has selected a team to take on the host club, who play at a picturesque ground on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border, at Dairy Lane on July 31(11.30am to 6.30pm). Julian’s side includes former Warwickshire batsman and Moseley, Gloucester and London Scottish rugby player Charlie Mulraine, who now works a Personal Development and Welfare Manager for the Professional Cricketers’ Association. The former Worcestershire trio of Martin Weston, Gavin Haynes and Duncan Catterall, former Gloucestershire and England left-arm seamer Mike Smith, ex-Somerset seamer Matthew Cleal, former Gloucestershire and Essex all-rounder Mark Hardinges and former Derbyshire seamer Kevin Dean will also play for the invitation XI. Julian played from Leicestershire from 1953 to 1971 and then joined the first-class umpires’ list, standing in county cricket from 1972 until he retired in 2001. Although he has been retired from county umpiring for 15 years, Julian continues to officiate in charity matches across the country. Lunch and tea will be available at Dumbleton at a cost of £ 25, including coffee on arrival. Cheques should be made payable to Dumbleton CC. {{ak_sharing}}
