By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network
England star Chris Edwards believes cricket is the “best-kept secret in Disability Sport” following a ground-breaking Mixed Disability Vitality IT20 series win against India.
England clinched up the seven-game series in Worcester on Sunday with a six-wicket win, although it has been the success off the field that has been just as significant.
The innovative series has brought together the best players from three impairment groups - Physical Disability, Learning Disability and Deaf – as cricket aims to grow the sport and provide opportunities for more and more people.
Bringing the best players together at the best grounds - including a day to remember at Lord’s last week – has unquestionably raised the profile of Disability Cricket underlined by the fact today’s sixth international will be televised live on Sky Sports.
“It's a positive thing for Disability Cricket, and hopefully we can get more nations involved,” Edwards said.
“For Disability Cricket to move forwards, I think this format is going to be key.
“I’ve been involved with the Learning Disability (LD) squad for 17 years, and I’ve captained them for the last 10. But this is a chance to mix with other impairment groups and learn about other disabilities.
“Also, as an LD squad, we only play against Australia and South Africa. To actually get the chance to play against other nations is amazing.
“Hopefully, then it grows the game and we get more people on board, which could then mean more individual series.”
Cheshire’s Edwards, who has a long list of team honours under his belt, highlighted by three Ashes wins as LD skipper, played in last Wednesday’s narrow defeat to India at Lord’s, his first appearance there in an international fixture.
“We played against the MCC there last year in a Mixed Disability game, but this was the first international,” the 32-year-old said. “Any time you play at Lord’s, it’s an amazing experience.
“There was so many people there from across the disability game, and it gave me goosebumps even though the day didn’t quite go our way with the result.”
Following the India series comes the 20-over Toyota Disability Premier League through August and September, which brings together the country’s best disability players and is into its fifth season.
Toyota has today been announced as title sponsors for the competition, something Edwards is understandably delighted about.
“Toyota is a fantastic partner which the ECB have got,” he said. “Having a major brand at the forefront of the whole community, pushing the game forwards, is a massive thing.
“There's no better time to support our game.
“Cricket is probably the best-kept secret in Disability Sport at present, and this is just another way of getting more mainstream coverage. It’s a huge opportunity to push Disability Cricket more onto the map and to get more people involved.”
But the great thing is, that Disability Cricket is now quickly becoming less and less of a secret.
Each of the seven matches in the recent Vitality IT20 series against India, for example, were played at county and international venues and were all live-streamed.
Last year, England teams played friendlies at the likes of Lord’s and Headingley, while the DPL final, like today’s international, is a regular fixture shown live on Sky Sports.
Edwards was a beaten finalist last September with the Tridents team, who lost to the Pirates by 32 runs at Sophia Gardens just hours before England Men beat Australia in a Vitality IT20 international under the Cardiff lights.
He will be part of the Tridents squad once again for the four-team competition and is expecting it to be more competitive than ever given the increasing depth of talent in England.
“Last year, people weren't expecting the Tridents to get there,” he added. “But we had the belief and the togetherness in the group to get some results.
“We did that right through to the final in Cardiff last year and fell short. Hopefully we can go one further and win it this time.
“But everyone will believe they can win it because all the squads are so strong. I can’t wait.”
The final once again will be held at Sophia Gardens, on September 10, in front of the Sky Sports cameras. England Men host South Africa in a Vitality IT20 clash that evening.