Ahead of the Mixed Disability Vitality IT20 Series against India, England’s Dan Bowser reflects on a ground-breaking summer of disability cricket.
Bowser is part of a new-look squad bringing together players from the England Men’s Deaf, Physical Disability (PD), and Learning Disability (LD) teams.
The two teams will take part in the first international series of Mixed Disability cricket, a trial building on the domestic success of the Disability Premier League (DPL).
And with a tantalising seven-match series set to start at Taunton on 21 June, he says emotions are running high.
“It’s just pure excitement at this stage,” he says. “The winter we’ve spent together as a squad has been a really good one, and I think we’re in a great place now to be a team, to play for each other, and to play our best cricket. I think we can give India a real challenge.”
The left-handed opening bat from Devon has never played against India before, but says England's PD and Deaf players have been providing insight to the LD squad members.
“It seems like they (India) put in a decent shift earlier this week against our Lions, but I've heard from a few of my team-mates that they're not unbeatable,” he says. “I’m just focusing on what I do best, and I’ll try to adapt as best I can to whatever the Indians throw at us.”
That collaboration between new team-mates is one of the reasons Bowser is so confident for the coming months.
He says: “I was familiar with some of the guys from the Disability Premier League, but I hadn’t spent a huge amount of time with many of them.
“From a personal point of view, part of my impairment is social. I don’t particularly like change or new environments, and I was quite comfortable in the LD setup, so getting to know a new coaching structure – even though many of the coaches were the same – was difficult.
“But I think we’ve all bought into it, and it’s been a great challenge. I’m 37, so I should be pushing my boundaries a bit – and I am. I’m very grateful to be selected and given the opportunity to have that challenge.”
Bowser hopes to be selected for Saturday’s opening fixture at Taunton – “it’s just up the road from me,” he says – but he also can’t help looking ahead to next week’s match at Lord’s.
He says: “Getting selected for that would be amazing. I was fortunate enough to play against the MCC for the pan-disability side at Lord’s last year, which was my first time playing there. But I don’t think playing at Lord’s will ever get boring. I’m really excited and hopeful about being selected for that game.
Later in the series, there's also the prospect of playing in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Bristol.
Dan says: “I’d love to be selected for that and to showcase what I can do on TV again. It should be great fun.”
Does he think three teams coming together will drive up standards and help grow disability cricket?
“Definitely. If you take the top four or five players from any group, you’re going to have a strong squad. And the way they’ve balanced it is excellent. We’ve got batters who are very good at certain aspects of batting and others who are strong in different areas, so we complement each other really nicely.
“I also think our fielding could win us some games. The ability the lads have, and their confidence to throw themselves around to save any run, take any catch, or execute a run-out, is remarkable. The intensity is so high, and their willingness to put their bodies on the line is something I haven’t really seen to this degree before. It’s gone up a level.”
He adds: “I think people will be surprised (by what they see). The term ‘disability’ carries some negative connotations. Like, if someone’s disabled, how can they play cricket? How can they function like a 'normal' human being?
“But the standard we’re trying to bring is very high. We’re being treated by our coaching staff like professionals, and that’s how we approach our cricket – very professionally.
“Hopefully we can showcase our skills to the highest standard and show people this is something worth supporting.”
Find out more about the Mixed Disability Vitality IT20 Series here, and read about Dan's England teammates here.
FIXTURES
Saturday 21 June: 1st Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Taunton, 6.30pm
Monday 23 June: 2nd Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Wormsley, 5pm
Wednesday 25 June: 3rd Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Lord's, 3.30pm
Friday 27 June: 4th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Worcester, 12pm
Sunday 29 June: 5th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Worcester, 2.30pm
Tuesday 1 July: 6th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Bristol, 2pm
Thursday 3 July: 7th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Mixed Disability v India Men’s Mixed Disability, Bristol, 6.30pm