A LANDMARK weekend for a Burley cricketer begins with a game at School Green and ends on the eve of his 80th birthday.

Cricket history is full of long stands at the crease, but none come close to Brian Price who takes to the field today (Jul 22) against Ellingham.

Mr Price is believed to be Hampshire's oldest cricketer and he celebrates his 80th birthday on Monday after continuing his 66-year cricketing career - and he still is in the thick of the action having played at Burley since the 1950s.

Featuring in eight of Burley 2nd XI's nine league matches so far this season, Mr Price remains a regular part of the bowling attack, taking a handful of wickets and maintaining his close fielding position despite his senior experience.

"I don't like watching from the boundary, I have to involved in the game," Mr Price said.

"I just go out there and do my best. I enjoy playing with the team, we have a laugh and it is all good fun. We play to win but it's always about enjoying the game.

"I was supposed to stop playing five years ago. My two boys are quite good cricketers and they say "pack it in before you get hurt", but that's just part of playing cricket."

On his 75th birthday, he took five wickets for just 13 runs. Matching those achievements could be a challenging task for Mr Price, who whilst serving with the army got to experience cricket in the West Indies.

A special birthday cake awaits Mr Price at tea-time today, who has taken over 2,000 wickets and scored nearly 20,000 runs since starting his career in 1951 at the age of 14 - he has no plans of retiring from the game.

"I have always enjoyed bowling and my fielding position is right in amongst it at silly mid-off," Mr Price added.

"My target was to still be playing when I was 80, but I will play it by ear and keep going as long as I am playing an active part and enjoying my cricket."