At over 60 years old, Kiama local Tony Panecasio thought his cricketing dream was a thing of the past. Yet, in the last 18 months, he’s stunned both himself and the sporting world, winning a World Cup in India while also taking the most wickets in the tournament. To top it off, he’s won an Ashes series against England.

“You always dream when you’re young that maybe you could be good enough, but then you realise it’s probably not going to happen. No way. But the last 12 to 18 months have been a blur,” says Panecasio. “If you’d told me 12 months ago that I’d be in India playing in a World Cup, I would’ve thought you were crazy. I’d have said, You need to see a doctor!”

Panecasio moved to the South Coast 30 years ago with his family, and at one point had all but given up on cricket. But when his kids were a little older, he decided to join a local team with Lake Illawarra.

“When I first came back to cricket, it was really just to get involved, have fun, and enjoy that team sport experience again. I missed that camaraderie. It was also a great way to meet new people since we’d just moved down,” Panecasio says.

Initially, he wasn’t too serious about it, but that changed when Jamberoo local Ian Bradburn encouraged him to join the over-60s Veterans Southern Highlands team. Though Panecasio had played in a few veterans' tournaments in the over-50s and over-55s divisions, he hadn’t expected much. But when he gave it a go, it turned into something extraordinary.

“I went to a state tournament with my club, Southern Highlands, and I was picked for the NSW side. We played in Western Australia and won. Then, six of us from the NSW team were selected for the Australian team, which went to the World Cup in India. I was lucky enough to be one of them. That was my first Australian trip,” says Panecasio.

The World Cup took place in Chennai, and Panecasio recalls how special it was to finally receive a baggy green - something he had dreamed of since he was young.

The Australian Veterans over 60s team who won the Grey Ashes. Source: Tony Panecasio.jpg

“They do a cap presentation at the ground, and it's a proper baggy green that says ‘Veterans Australia’ instead of just ‘Australia.’ I’m not usually an emotional person, but I was really emotional when I received it. It was a dream come true. And then, immediately, I was terrified - what if I didn’t play well?”

Fortunately, Panecasio had nothing to fear. His over-60s Australian team went on to win the tournament, with Panecasio taking a combined 10 wickets in the semi-final and final alone. He ended up winning the World Cup trophy for the most wickets overall.

On top of his cricketing triumph, Panecasio got the chance to explore Chennai and experience the vibrant culture of India.

“We would never have gone to India as a holiday destination, but thanks to cricket, I did. It was amazing - 30 million people, 24/7. One of our bus trips was only about 10 to 15 kilometres, but it took 90 minutes to get there. The driver missed the turn and just did a U-turn - on the wrong side of the highway. 

“There were cows on the road, bikes weaving everywhere. It was so in-your-face. You’d see extreme poverty next to areas of great wealth, but everyone seemed happy. It was an unforgettable experience.”

Tony Panecasio with the Ashes urn. Source: Tony Panecasio.

Another highlight of Panecasio’s career was winning the Grey Ashes against England in December 2024, earning a replica urn for his efforts. Looking ahead, Panecasio has once again been selected to represent Australia in the over-60s team for a tour to New Zealand. The tour includes three One Day Internationals against the New Zealand over-60s team, scheduled for 21, 22 and 24 March.

The replica urn. Source: Tony Panecasio.

Panecasio hopes his story will inspire older generations to give cricket a go through veterans’ programs.

“We’ve got an Illawarra Veterans Group now, with teams in the over-40s, 50s, 55s, and 60s. We’re gradually expanding to include over-65s and 70s. It’s only once a fortnight, and players can choose when they want to play. The games are 40 overs, and batters retire at 30, so everyone gets a chance to bat. Bowlers only bowl a maximum of 7 overs, which means a lot more participation,” says Panecasio.

If you’re interested in joining, find the Greater Illawarra Veterans Cricket Association (GIVCA) on Facebook and get in touch with them.

The Bugle wishes Tony the best of luck for his upcoming tour to New Zealand this March!