KEITH Harsham of Alton will captain England Over-50s on their tour to South Africa this month.

He was asked to play for the ECB’s inaugural O50s tournament in Sri Lanka last year and won Best England Player for that trip.

Guyana-born Harsham, 58, came to England when he was five and soon showed great promise as a young cricketer.

Surrey offered him a contract, but he opted for university instead. He played for University College London and Combined Universities and his passion for cricket has never waned.

A right-arm medium-pacer and lower middle-order batsman, he is a long-serving player for Basingstoke & North Hants. He still plays for the 2nd XI and is a regular for Hampshire Seniors.

He and his wife, Jane, moved to Hampshire 26 years ago and settled in Alton. Now a Level 3 ECB coach, Harsham has guided young cricketers at both Holybourne CC and Basingstoke, including his own children, Georgia and Max.

It was on the strength of his performances for Hampshire O50s that he was selected for England by the ECB and now he has the honour of leading his country in South Africa.