Disability cricket is back up and running across England and Wales with the ECB's domestic competitions getting underway in recent weeks after an enforced hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ECB's disability competitions involve cricketers who are physically impaired, learning impaired, deaf or hard of hearing and people who are blind or visually impaired, with over 200 domestic fixtures have been arranged for what promises to be a record-breaking summer.
The governing body, working closely with the county boards, has spent the closed season closely monitoring the status of the disability teams and most importantly their players, with an emphasis on mental health and physical wellbeing.
Early results in the hardball D40 leagues have seen Middlesex 1st XI victorious over Wales in Division One, with Hampshire defeating Sussex in the same division. In Division Two, Surrey 2nd XI were victorious over local rivals Middlesex 2nd XI’s.
The Super 9s competition sees counties competing in softball cricket matches, with Essex, Hampshire, and Somerset all recording early victories against Kent, Middlesex and Dorset respectively.
With the additional challenges that many disabled people have faced during the pandemic, the ECB is delighted to see so many disability cricketers back in action ahead of an important year for the sport with the pilot of a new Disability Premier League set to take place in the late summer.
