Derbyshire disabled cricket player makes England squad

18 August 2008

A disabled cricket player from Derbyshire has made the England squad for a match which will be staged in the county later this week.

George Dutton, who plays for Derbyshire Disabled Cricket Club (pictured), has been selected for the 13-man England Physical Disability Select XI team that will face the England Learning Disability XI on Wednesday (August 20).

The Twenty20 match will be played at Queens Park Cricket Ground ahead of the England Ladies International against South Africa at the same venue.

George, who is 57 and lives in Ashbourne, was selected for the England squad following a trial at Loughborough, having been put forward by Derbyshire Disabled Cricket Club, based at Darley Abbey Cricket Club.

Paul Roe, a coach at Derbyshire Disabled Cricket Club, said: “This is our second year, so to have got someone in the England squad is something we are very proud of.”

The club is hoping the disability cricket match in Chesterfield will also raise the profile of the sport.

On the back of the event, a taster session to attract new players and coaches has been organised by Paul Roe, Chesterfield Cricket Club Chairman Mike Taylor and Derbyshire Sport Disability Sports Development Officer Catherine Davies.

This will be held at Chesterfield Cricket Club’s Queens Park ground on Thursday, September 11 from 6pm until 7.30pm, and will see the Derbyshire squad take part in a full training session.

Anyone with a physical or learning disability who is interested in playing is welcome to go along, have a go and join in with the training session. Coaches who would like to have a go at coaching disabled people are also welcome.

For more information or to register your interest contact coach Paul Roe on 07908046772.

Derbyshire Disabled Cricket Club also train at Darley Abbey Cricket Club every Wednesday from 6pm until 7.30pm, so anyone who cannot make the taster session in Chesterfield is welcome to join the team at Darley Abbey instead.

The club currently has 20 active players, aged from 14 to 57, including one female player, and plays six county fixtures a year plus a number of friendlies.

Paul said: “I’d like to see 50 people down at Darley Abbey every Wednesday. It doesn’t matter if people use a wheelchair or a walking frame, or have a learning disability, everybody can join in and we never turn anybody away.”

Derbyshire Disabled Cricket Club plays in the British Association for Cricketers with Disabilities county league.

New members are always welcome, and the club is open to men and women of any age who have a physical or learning disability.

It is a true county team, with current members coming from as far afield as Matlock, Ashbourne and Swadlincote.

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