Karaka commercial composter Roger Wark - also known as Warkie - is swapping his shovel for a cricket bat in the run-up to a Christchurch competition.
The cricket enthusiast and president of local Golden Oldies team, the Karaka Stallions, will be joining around 5000 mature sports players from New Zealand and overseas at the Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Celebration next month.
While they're taking the competition down a notch by playing in the social division, the Stallions have an ace up their sleeve and are plotting to send their best batter on the pitch.
"We've got the mayor of Karaka joining us for this game, he's a 73-year-old cricket player and a renowned batsman," Wark said.
"That's because he doesn't bowl - he can't throw the ball."
In fact, Wark said these days batting is preferred over the more rigorous tasks of bowling or manning the outfield.