Paul McKeown has been picked to tour India with England Lions over-60s, a selection which he says rounds off “the best year of my cricketing career”.

In early 2026, Paul was invited to attend an England age group trial at Loughborough University’s National Cricket Performance Centre.

National selectors were seeking to choose talented veteran players to join both an England over-60s squad for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, and a “B” Lions group.

Paul, now aged 62, earned a Lions call-up before impressing in an inter-squad trial game in Derbyshire.

He then made a memorable England debut at Seaton Carew against Scotland’s Forty Club, scoring an unbeaten 21 before taking two wickets in a crushing 145-run victory.

That was the first of seven national team caps he gained throughout 2026.

Later in the year Paul went with the Lions on tour to Benidorm, where they played two matches — and recorded two victories — against an in-form Spanish Sporting Alfas emerging nation side.

“They were an over-50s team which included a number of 30 and 40-year-olds,” said Paul.

“They hadn’t been beaten all year.

“We played on an artificial strip which, up to 12pm, doubles as a golf driving range.

“There were flags and holes, and the groundsman went around with a tractor, collecting all the golf balls, before we played cricket on it!”

In the opening game, after the Lions had posted 304 for two, Paul claimed the vital wicket of big-hitting Tyrone Malyon, after the batsman had “teed off” and made 76 as Alfas raced to 140 without loss after just 15 overs of their reply.

“It brought back memories of games in Cumbria when you’ve got a big lad smashing it to all parts,” said Paul.

“It tested me to the max but I managed to tie him up, he was caught and that spell won us the game.

“The conditions were challenging.

“At one stage I went to collect a ball from mid-off and it bounced over my head.

“When I turned around I couldn’t see it — it had gone in a golf hole!”

Last weekend, Paul attended an end-of-season England seniors dinner at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

“It was an opportunity to put on your England tie and blazer,” he said proudly.

“I got to catch up again with a lot of the lads, and members of the England 70s who have won everything in their age group.

“We’re old fellas.

“I imagine it’s not particularly pleasing to watch at times, but the fact we’re still playing cricket at this age and this level is testimony to everybody concerned.

“There is a full PR machine and managers as part of the team behind it.

“It is very well done and they are great.

“The camaraderie is very good as well.

“It is just the icing on the cake.

“You’ve got to take the opportunity, The whole trialling process starts again in February and March next year when there will be a whole new raft of players.”

But in the meantime, “a gift which keeps on giving” — in Paul’s own words — has included a call-up for an England Lions’ tour of India.

As part of a joint tour to Hyderabad with the main over-60s side, the Lions will play six internationals against India A early in 2027.

Matches will be broadcast on the Frogbox live stream and YouTube.

Earlier this year, Paul McKeown was a member of the Workington II team which won the Eden Valley League Division I championship, securing promotion to the Cumbria League.

During that title-winning season, Paul was runner-up in the league bowling averages and took career best figures of eight for 17.

After 13 years, he played his final game for Cumbria over-50s — bowing out with a win against Northumberland.

During that time, skipper Paul made 81 appearances, taking 56 wickets and scoring 800 runs.

He will switch to Durham over-60s in 2027.

“It has been the best year of my cricketing career — 51 years playing at Workington, culminating with an England Lions call-up,” reflected Paul, who lives at Brougham, near Penrith, with wife Clare.

The couple have two daughters, Mia and Eve.

Part of Paul’s training for the India tour could also include sessions at Cumbria’s first purpose-built indoor cricket centre, which was due to open its doors in Carlisle late this week.

This is the brainchild of Keswick first XI captain and former Penrith all-rounder Paul Hindmarch, who hails from Borrowdale, near Keswick.

Paul McKeown said: “That has the potential to capture a lot of Cumbrian talent.

“It is something we have been crying out for here.

“I am sure Hindy has got the support of the whole county.”