To coincide with the launch of the new T20 kit launch we sat down with Ian Martin, the Head of the Disability at England Cricket and two of its stars. Jordan Williams from the Physical Disability team and James ‘Jimmy’ Dixon from the deaf team touched upon the new kit, the summer ahead and the inaugural Disability Premier League.
After an amazing year for disability cricket in 2022 which saw two Ashes wins, the maiden Disability Premier League and the first ever live Sky broadcast of a disability game, disability cricket is going from strength to strength.
And Ian feels like this could be a big year with all the international teams playing in 2023. In particular, there are two stand-out moments he’s looking forward to this summer.
He said: “The World Blind Games take place in Birmingham in August, where we have cricket as a sport within the world blind games for the first time. Both the men and women will represent England; with the women having their first ever representation at the games.
“We also have the second year of the DPL starting in August, with the final being played on the 6 September as a double header in Derby with the England Women.”
Recently both Jordan and Jimmy were on hand to show off the new England kits which have just been unveiled, taking part in the launch photo shoot. Speaking at the event, they reflected on a 2022 which supplied us with some great memories, none bigger than the two Ashes wins for our deaf and learning disability teams down under in Australia. It was a proud moment for Jimmy.
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"A very proud moment for us to win the deaf ashes after 30 years,” he said. “We’ve come a long way from when we had to use our own money and sponsorship to play compared to last year where we had the support from ECB and extra training which culminated in a series win against a very good Australian side."
The inaugural DPL last year was a massive step change in the disability game. It is a unique tournament as each team is made up of players from three different impairment groups: physical/ learning disability, and deaf. Each team features a mixture of players with each impairment and includes domestic players as well. Jimmy won the tournament with the Tridents and remembers the day fondly.
"It was great to win it in the first year, a proud moment for me and my family,” he said. “It’s great to see the game getting out there more with the help from BBC and Sky Sports. When I was younger my parents didn’t know about deaf cricket. With the broadcast, disabled kids can see a way to get into cricket and their parents can now see it and gives them something to aim for."
Williams said: "It was exciting and different as we’ve never experienced it but it was great in getting the disability game out there more. I see the DPL as I’m not going to be around forever, so if I can inspire one person to start playing and carry the PD and disability flag, then my work is pretty much done."
With a bumper year ahead, we asked what they’re looking forward to the most.
Williams said "We’re playing a lot of county academy sides which should be a big test and building towards a potential trip to India in the winter. An exciting year with some big challenges."
Dixon added: "Playing as much cricket as I can really, in the second DPL - with the Black Cats - and playing for the MCC."
Rounding up the interview, Ian concludes: "Both Jimmy and Jordan have been great role models for the disabled game. If youngsters see them both bowl, I couldn’t – as the programme lead – ask for better people for them to look up to."
