The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced a 15-man Visually Impaired (VI) squad for the upcoming Lord’s Taverners International Blind Cricket Series against Australia in the new year.
The England VI team will travel to Australia in January and be led by ECB’s Disability Cricketer of the Year Luke Sugg (T20 captain) along with Matt Dean (ODI captain). The series, which will be staged in Adelaide and runs from 22-31 January, comprises five 40-over matches and three Twenty20s.
Today’s announcement coincides with International Day of Persons with Disabilities and marks the end of a year that has seen further growth of disability cricket across England and Wales – with England Physical Disability’s recent victory in the first mini-World Cup for physical disability cricketers in Bangladesh a major highlight.
There are a number of personnel changes from the side that faced India earlier this year, with Amit Amin (London Metro) and Mark Bond (London Metro) returning to the squad after narrowly missing selection for the India series.
Mark Turnham is also recalled after five years away from the game and promising new member Amin Afshari (Kent) is set to make his debut in Adelaide.
Afshari, 27, who is completely blind and currently studying for his PhD in Medieval English Literature and Art History, has previously represented Great Britain in Athletics and Goalball before deciding to make the switch to cricket in November 2014 after attending an open day run by Kent VI cricket coaches.
Afshari played his first season of VI in 2015, debuting in style for the Kent Spitfires, and was awarded the Blind Cricket England and Wales Development League Total (B1) player of the year.
Head Coach Ross Hunter said: “This is the strongest team that I have had the pleasure to select. The players have been chosen based on the quality of their skill, their commitment to self-improvement and their devotion to the team. There were some very difficult decisions and some very good cricketers unfortunately missed out.
“It is with pleasure that we have welcomed players back to the squad and given opportunities to some exciting new prospects. A series between England and Australia is always going to be tough, the players are looking forward to the challenge.”
England Visually Impaired Australia series squad
Matt Dean (London Metro, ODI captain)
Luke Sugg (Warwickshire Bears, T20 captain)
Amin Afshari (Kent Spitfires)
Amit Amin (London Metro)
Peter Blueitt (Yorkshire VICC)
Mark Bond (London Metro)
Rob Comber (Kent Spitfires)
Dan Field (Sussex Sharks)
Justin Hollingsworth (Warwickshire Bears)
Ed Hossell (Somerset VICC)
Hassan Khan (London Metro)
Mahomed Khatri (Warwickshire Bears)
Si Ledwith (Sussex Sharks)
James Millard (Sussex Sharks)
Mark Turnham (Warwickshire VICC)
Australia VI v England VI series fixtures
- 22 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (T20), Park 25, Adelaide
- 23 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (ODI), Park 25, Adelaide
- 24 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (ODI), Park 25, Adelaide
- 26 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (ODI), Park 25, Adelaide
- 27 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (ODI), Park 25, Adelaide
- 29 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (ODI), Park 25, Adelaide
- 30 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (T20), Park 25, Adelaide
- 31 January 2016: Australia VI v England VI (T20), Park 25, Adelaide