Photo Credit: Luke Williams/Cricket Australia
Australia’s most talented cricketers with a disability will return to the international stage in June for a highly anticipated series against England.
The International Cricket Inclusion Series will be held in Brisbane from 1-15 June and will see all Australian national disability squads – deaf, blind, and intellectual disability – play five T20Is and three ODI matches against England.
The series marks a long-awaited resumption to international cricket for Australia’s national disability squads.
Australia’s National Blind Squad last competed internationally at the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup in Dubai, while the National Deaf Squad will be in action for the first time since the 2018 Deaf Cricket World Cup in India. The National Intellectual Disability Squad last played an international series against England as part of the 2019 INAS Global Games in Brisbane.
Thanks to the Commonwealth Bank, cricket is the first non-Paralympic Australian sport to fully fund national disability squads.
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer said:
“Cricket Australia is extremely excited to host another hugely important international series in June.
“Since 2017, each squad has had access to fully funded training camps at the National Cricket Centre, high-performance coaching sessions, online wellbeing and education sessions as well as CA’s Athlete Management System (AMS).
“Our national disability squads have unfortunately been unable to participate in international competition since the onset of the pandemic, and this Ashes series promises to be a wonderful celebration of cricket and inclusion that renews rivalries and friendships alike.
“Our national squads for cricketers with a disability are a source of inspiration and I have no doubt this series will motivate more people to get involved in the game, as we work towards our vision to be a sport for all that makes Australians proud.”
Ian Martin, ECB Head of Disability Cricket, said:
“After the hiatus caused by the global pandemic, we very much look forward to seeing international disability cricket back in our calendar.
“We thank Cricket Australia for organising this opportunity for three of our international squads to contest Ashes cricket in what will be a unique celebration of the inclusive nature of our sport.”
Selection of the final three squads will be announced in May, with training camps to be held prior to the series.
