It was a landmark occasion for cricket on Thursday 15 September as the Final of the Disability Premier League was broadcast for the very first time on Sky Sports.
The match was staged at Bristol and featured a number of players from the Essex Ability team as the Tridents took on Pirates.
The groundbreaking 20-over, four-team competition showcased the best disability cricket players in the country with teams made up of England and County cricketers.
Players were divided into four teams via a draft system, ensuring an even split in each team. The respective squads included three impairments; learning disability, physical disability and hearing impairment. The players were chosen either by selection from England coaches or via the domestic competition and took part in training sessions before the competition got underway on August 28. Three rounds of league matches took place with the top two advancing to the Final.
The showcase event saw the Tridents take on the Pirates, with Essex players, Ronnie Jackson, Joe Freestone and Andrew Mowatt involved in the Pirates line-up. Ronnie and Joe started the showpiece event, while Andrew was named as the twelfth man.
Unfortunately, for the Essex contingent, the Pirates were beaten by eight wickets but it was a groundbreaking moment for disability cricket and widening the accessibility of the sport to a broader audience.
If you are interested in playing disability cricket, please contact Essex Cricket in the Community via [email protected].
