England Disability squads announced

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced its disability cricket schedule for 2015 with three different national squads preparing for international action later this year.

The England Learning Disability team will travel to Australia in March to compete in the Inas International Cricket Series against Australia, while the England Visually Impaired team are hosting one-day international and Twenty20 defending champions India in May. 

The England Deaf squad will also be competing on the international stage in June when they are set to take on  mainstream opposition from the ICC’s associate nations in a tournament due to be held in the Netherlands.

The action kicks off next month when Chris Edwards will lead the England Learning Disability team’s tour to Australia. The series, which will be staged in Melbourne runs from March 17- 24, comprises four 40 over matches and two T20s against Australia.

Yorkshire double Robert Hewitt and Alexander Jervis are two of the eight uncapped players in the 15 man squad along with Daniel Bowser (Devon), Matthew Cowdrey (Essex), Jonathan Dakic (Sussex), Ronnie Jackson (Essex), Thomas Wilson (Lancashire) and Tayler Young (Surrey).

ECB’s Head of Disability Ian Martin said: “These are exciting times for disability cricket with the need for more international disability cricket matches a key strategic priority for ECB.

“We are certainly meeting that challenge with national squads being involved in three series in the next three months. Selection for all of the squads has been tough with many talented players missing out on selection which is great credit to the work being done at all levels of our pathway to increase the talent pool."

After reaching the semi-finals of the Blind World Cup in South Africa before Christmas the England Visually Impaired team are preparing for the challenge of hosting defending champions India on home soil in May.

16-year old Josh Nonet Black from Surrey, who narrowly missed out on selection for the Blind World Cup squad, has been included in the 15 man squad to face India which includes five changes from the trip to South Africa.

Commenting on the squad and upcoming series Ross Hunter, Head Coach said: “We are very excited by the potential of this squad and delighted they will get the opportunity to play at iconic cricket venues like the The Kia Oval and Arundel.

"There is a mix of experience and youth in the squad, and intense training over the next few months will focus on challenging current techniques and ways of doing things to take the group to the next level.”

England Learning Disability Inas International Cricket Series Squad

Christopher Edwards (Cheshire, Captain)

Daniel Bowser (Devon)

Matthew Cowdrey (Essex)

Jonathan Dakic (Sussex)

Jonathon Gale (Surrey)

Robert Hewitt (Yorkshire)

Ronnie Jackson (Essex)

Alexander Jervis (Yorkshire)

Daniel Levey (Surrey)

Gavin Randall (Hampshire)

Callum Rigby (Shropshire)

Lee Stenning (Surrey)

Daniel Thomas (Essex)

Thomas Wilson (Lancashire) *

Tayler Young (Surrey)

Inas International Cricket Series Fixture:

* Awaiting eligibility clearance

** Grounds to be confirmed

England Visually Impaired India Series Squad

Matt Dean (London Metro, ODI Captain)

Luke Sugg (Warwickshire Bears, T20 captain)

Peter Blueitt  (Yorkshire VICC)

Rob Comber (Kent)

Kelvin Duncan (Sussex Sharks)

Dan Field (Sussex Sharks)

Nathan Foy (Warwickshire Bears)

Justin Hollingsworth (Warwickshire Bears)

Ed Hossell (Somerset VICC)

Hassan Khan (London Metro)

Mahomed Khatri (Warwickshire Bears)

Si Ledwith (Sussex Sharks)

Josh Nonet-Black ( Surrey)

James Millard (Sussex Sharks)

Matt Page (London Metro)

Visually Impaired India Series Fixture: