England Deaf team set for World Cup

England players are relishing the chance to test themselves against the best in the world when they take part in the second Deaf Cricket World Cup in India this month.

Nine teams will compete in the tournament in Lucknow and it promises to be a memorable occasion for all those involved.

Middlesex’s Umesh Valjee captains a 15-man England squad and top-order batsman Mike O'Mahony, who is also chairman of the England Cricket Association for the Deaf (ECAD), admits it is an exciting prospect.

He told ecb.co.uk: “It will be a wonderful experience and the best sporting event of our lives.

“The opportunity to meet players and spectators from countries all over the world with their own sign language and accents in a place full of culture and a population mad on cricket will be fantastic.

“This will be a very special event for all the players and officials and it is a wonderful achievement by everyone concerned to have been selected to represent their country.

“They will be competing against eight of the best cricketing countries in the world and there is no greater honour than representing your country in a World Cup.

“We will wear the ‘Three Lions’ on our chests with great pride and are aware that we will be role models for all to see.”

Just like the men’s and women’s teams this winter, the England Deaf side must quickly cope with the conditions in India if they are to be successful and O’Mahony welcomes the challenge.

“Bearing in mind we are travelling to the sub-continent, it is important to absorb everything it has to offer and thrive on it,” he said.

“We will be playing in unfamiliar elements and on surfaces which are likely to be conducive to spin, and arrive out of season, so will need to brush up our games very quickly. It will be a great challenge.”

The 37-year-old was part of the Great Britain team which reached the final of the only previous Deaf Cricket World Cup nine years ago in Melbourne and marked the occasion with a magnificent 115.

Unfortunately that was not enough to prevent hosts Australia clinching a five-wicket victory, and in 2004 they beat England 1-0 in a close three-match Test series and triumphed 5-0 in the one-day series.

O’Mahony (left) expects the holders to be challenging for the silverware once again.

He explained: “Australia are the world champions and boast a team filled with first grade experience.

"They have strength in depth and a strong aggressive mindset. However, there is a feeling that they rely on two or three individuals to perform and dictate matches; cue the Ashes last summer.

“India will undoubtedly be strong on home soil, despite losing a recent one-day series heavily to Pakistan, who appear to be the dark horses.

“No match can be taken for granted as it will be a very intensive competition, playing eight matches in 10 days and the final on the 11th day.

“The need to get a good start, develop momentum and confidence, maintain fitness and some luck will be crucial.”

The World Cup also features South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, with England’s opening fixture coming against Sri Lanka on November 17.

The trip is going ahead thanks to support and financial backing from ECB, while ECAD are also grateful to contributions from ATP International, Island Sports, D3 Media Partnership, Pinstripe Print Ltd and Dent, Raven and Marsdens Solicitors.

ECB performance director Hugh Morris said: “Cricket for people with all forms of disability is an integral part of the ECB Whole Sport Plan and the board is delighted to be supporting the England Cricket Association for the Deaf and the England Deaf team in the World Cup.

“ECB wishes all nine nations playing in the World Cup a thrilling, hard-fought tournament and may the best team win."