Three years, three different winners.
If you wanted proof of how hard it is to take the Toyota Disability Premier League crown, there’s your answer.
Having got it right third time, Pirates – beaten finalists in 2022 and 2023 – may fancy their chances of becoming the first side to retain the trophy, but Anthony Clapham’s men will face renewed competition from Tridents, Hawks and Black Cats.
The Toyota Disability Premier League (DPL) – pitching best against best across three impairment groups – Deaf, Learning Disabled (LD) and Physically Disabled (PD) – has evolved year on year, shining an ever-brighter spotlight on the disability game.
The format attracts fresh converts as it goes – witness India’s visit this summer for the first Mixed Disability international series with England, whose victorious heroes pepper these four sides, picked via draft earlier this year from three tiers.
T20 is a challenging, fast-paced enough format in itself. But there’s added intrigue in DPL in the chess-like conundrums for captains and coaches.
How will they juggle the squads across the three round-robin weekends? Will they get their match-ups right on the day? Have they got the winning blend as they vie for a top-two spot, and the chance of that unforgettable day in front of the cameras? The next three Sundays will reveal all…
FIXTURES
Sunday August 24 (two games per match-day live-streamed on ecb.co.uk)
10.30: Pirates v Black Cats
10.30: Tridents v Hawks
14.30: Pirates v Tridents
14.30: Black Cats v Hawks
Sunday August 31
10.30: Hawks v Pirates
10.30: Black Cats v Tridents
14.30: Tridents v Hawks
14.30: Pirates v Black Cats
Sunday September 7
10.30: Black Cats v Hawks
10.30: Pirates v Tridents
14.30: Black Cats v Tridents
14.30: Pirates v Hawks
Wednesday September 10
The DPL Final: 14.00: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
The Game-Changers
Some of the individuals involved in the DPL who may decide the outcome of the trophy.
CALLUM FLYNN (HAWKS)
Still only 30, England’s PD skipper has been a shining jewel in the disability cricket crown for more than a decade.
A stylish right-hand top-order batter with an unflappable temperament, he was a DPL winner with Hawks in 2023 – his masterful, unbeaten 83 in the final against Pirates won him the man of the match award. While his medium pacers are on the back burner these days, they remain a handy option.
BRENDON PARR (PIRATES)
The undisputed hit of 2024’s DPL, new-boy Parr topped the run chart with 385 – including a magisterial 61-ball 103 against Tridents in the group stages. At an imposing 6ft 5, with long levers to match, he is the batter no bowler fancies during the Powerplay.
Having discovered his eligibility for the disability game relatively late, he has become a key figure in England’s PD middle-order.
GREG MCKENZIE (BLACK CATS)
Half of the talented McKenzie siblings – older brother Monty was victorious with Pirates last year, while Greg tasted victory with Tridents in 2022 – McKenzie Jr’s skills make him a much sought-after performer.
Black Cats are now the only side not to have won the DPL, and will be hoping Greg’s clean hitting and left-arm seamers can change their luck.
ADNAN GHANI (TRIDENTS)
It was quite the DPL debut last year for the tall, bustling right-arm quick, whose spell of 4-18 in front of the Sky cameras propelled Pirates to final victory with critical inroads at either end of the Tridents’ innings.
Naturally, Ghani’s grace under pressure – he has also a Pakistan Deaf international – made him a key pick at this year’s draft. Unsurprisingly, Tridents wanted him on their side this year....
JIMMY DIXON (BLACK CATS)
A standout in England’s first Deaf Ashes win back in 2022, Dixon’s canny, metronomic bowling performances and ageless longevity draw obvious comparisons with fellow Lancastrian and England’s most-famous bowling Jimmy.
As popular as he is competitive, Dixon topped the wicket-taking list on MCC’s recent tour of Portugal. His 6-20, against his new team-mates, in Tridents’ run to DPL victory in 2022, remains the competition’s best return.
WILL FLYNN (PIRATES)
A gifted, fluid performer with the bat able to make light work of a run-chase – Flynn’s fielding, whether in the ring, or more often these days behind the stumps – is also every T20 skipper’s dream.
A great team man, his experience with England’s PD setup, where his contributions have become increasingly important, belies the fact that he only turned 25 in April.