Veteran bowler James Dixon says the England Men’s Mixed Disability team are ready for the challenge as they prepare for a ground-breaking five-match tour.
The trip, which marks the first ever overseas series for the England Men’s Mixed Disability team, sees Dixon and his teammates looking to complete back-to-back series wins against India just months after securing a 6-1 victory at home in the first-ever demonstration of the Mixed Disability format.
"Everyone in the squad is really excited to be here," says Dixon. "A few of us have played in India before, but there are also quite a few for whom it’s their first time. We’re gelling well as a team and we’re all excited together about what’s to come."
He adds: "We think India have maybe changed their team [since last summer]. We reckon they’ve upgraded it a little bit to try to match us. Hopefully we’ll still be even though.
"The result from the summer means this series probably will be a challenge. This series is on their home turf, and they know the grounds and they know their pitches. Over the next day or two we’ll have a closer look at the field and the Indian team and see what they’re like."
England’s squad arrived in Delhi on Friday, six days before the first fixture at Greater Noida Cricket Stadium. For Dixon, though, settling back into Indian life is reigniting memories of his 2005 trip as part of the England Deaf World Cup squad.
"I’ve got lots of memories from that first trip," he says. "It was funny. When we arrived, we were in ties, suits, and shoes – different to now, where we’re just in casual tracksuits – so we were sweating like crazy. On the coach from the airport, we were also given two armed guards with rifles, so that was quite an experience when you’ve just arrived in a new country for the first time."
He continues: "Being in India is a completely different environment [to England], the attention we get will be different, and we think the field will be harder than we’re used to. We’re also expecting it to be damp in the mornings. But we’re looking forward to playing next week."
With the possibility rising of potential series in the future against both South Africa and Australia, Dixon is convinced Mixed Disability cricket is set to grow at speed.
He says: "Playing South Africa would be very exciting. I’ve got some good friends in the South African team that I haven’t seen since we played their Deaf team in 2013. And, of course, an Ashes series would be absolutely amazing.
"The levels involved with Mixed Disability cricket are getting higher and higher and we’re showing the world that disability cricket is a really good standard."
He adds: "It's been 20 years now for me with England, but I still get the same buzz and I’m very proud of representing my country, supporting disability cricket, and passing it on to the younger generation. I try to be a positive role model for other people so they can take over from me in the future when I’m old and grey."
For now, Dixon’s focus is on maintaining the form that saw him take 10 wickets for just 49 runs during three matches against India last summer. It was even form that secured him the Lord’s Taverners Disability Cricketer of the Year award in October.
He says: "I didn’t expect to win, but I’m very proud of the years I’ve been involved and I’m a bit overwhelmed to still be representing England. Now I go around schools showing the trophy and telling the pupils they can achieve what they want, too."
The series will be live-streamed on www.ecb.co.uk with scorecards and updates available on ECB social channels, website and app.
2026 England Men's Mixed Disability Tour of India
1st IT20: Jan 29, Greater Noida Cricket Stadium (11am IST / 5.30am GMT)
2nd IT20: Jan 31, Greater Noida Cricket Stadium (11am IST / 5.30am GMT)
3rd IT20: Feb 2, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur (10am IST / 4.30am GMT)
4th IT20: Feb 4, Jaipur Cricket Academy (10am IST / 4.30am GMT)
5th IT20: Feb 6, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur (10am IST / 4.30am GMT)