He’s playing for the NZ over-70s cricket team in the inaugural over-70s Cricket World Cup in England, starting July 28.
Cushen played for the NZ under-19 and under-23 sides but never attained national honours during a 20-year first-class career representing Otago and Auckland.
He’s making up for lost time now, however, having played for and even captained NZ’s over-60s side and having captained a South Island over-70s side that beat Australia by four runs.
Known in his heyday as an aggressive and tireless fast bowler, he quips he now runs in faster than he bowls.
"Guys take their helmets off when I bowl and put them on when the spin bowler comes on."
The upcoming world cup, featuring seven teams plus a rest-of-the-world side, will hardly be a jolly.
Aside from a warm-up game, NZ plays at least six 45-over games, with bowlers allowed to bowl up to nine overs.
In his last outing, playing for Otago in the over-60s nationals in Napier, he bowled 40 overs and conceded only two boundaries.
Asked why he’s still playing when most tossed it in ages ago, Cushen, who’s had a couple of health wobbles, says "it keeps you interacting socially — I think that’s vital for having a young attitude".
"And the other thing is if you don’t want to embarrass yourself, you train hard, and we all know the best pill you can take for longevity and health is exercise.
"And I guess there’s a bit of ego there as well — there’s nothing like looking at a guy who’s 15 years younger than you and you’ve beaten him."
Cushen thinks there’s only one player in the NZ side who’s older, and then only by about a couple of months.
If NZ make the final on August 11 — "and we should do" — they’ll play on the late Sir Paul Getty’s famous ground in Wormsley Park Estate in Buckinghamshire.
