Indoor cricket master's international honour

Just three months shy of his 50th birthday, Bunbury indoor cricket veteran John Trela is set to pull on the green and gold of Australia at the Over 40 Indoor Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

Trela, the oldest member of the 12-man squad, impressed national selectors with a standout performance at the Australian Indoor Masters Championships in Perth.

“I was really happy with the way I played, I batted fairly well but my bowling and keeping are my real strengths and that area of my game really grew as the competition went on,” he said.

WA struggled in the early stages of the Indoor Masters Championships in May but a late surge and a couple of impressive performances in the knockout stages saw the team finish second to Queensland.

WA’s impressive performance, coupled with moments of individual brilliance, resulted in Trela’s selection to a second World Cup.

“I was chosen to play at the 2007 World Cup in New Zealand but I had a hernia and had to call the selectors the day before the plane left to let them know I couldn’t play,” Trela said.

“It was devastating because the World Cup only comes around every three years and the older you get the less opportunity you get so I was worried I might never get a chance to play again.”

Trela has represented Australia on the indoor cricket stage in the past but has never played on foreign soil and said he was looking forward to the experience.

“I’ve slipped on the kit and had a look in the mirror but the good part will be when the whole team is wearing the Australian uniform,” he said.

“I’m also looking forward to the national anthem, I suppose whatever sport you’re in that is quite a special moment.”

The World Cup takes place in Johannesburg from October 20 to 25.