Lord’s played host to two very special matches this week, with a celebration of Disability Cricket at the Ground.
In conjunction with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), there was a range of players on show from various England international teams to showcase the first ever time that Disability Cricket has taken place on the Main Ground at Lord’s.
The day began with a Visually Impaired Exhibition match featuring players from England’s men’s and women’s VI teams. There was also a range of guest players on show, with the actor and Lord’s Taverner Gordon Kennedy, MCC President Mark Nicholas, and comedian Adam Hills all playing in a ten-over match.
Team A came out on top by 16 runs, having made 90 for 5 with Mark Turnham top-scoring with 48. In response, Team B reached 74 for 4 which included an unbeaten 20 from Christopher Styles.
The second match saw MCC take on an ECB Chair’s Disability XI in a 40-over game. The XI was made up of players from the Deaf, Physical Disability and Learning Disability international teams. The mixed impairment team replicates the format used in the groundbreaking and highly successful Disability Premier League tournament introduced by ECB in 2022.
The team featured the captains of all three international disability squads - Callum Flynn (Physical Disability), Chris Edwards (Learning Disability) and George Greenway (Deaf) whilst the MCC side included three England players – Umesh Valjee, Jamie Goodwin and James Dixon - who combine playing for the Club with their international commitments.
Ahead of the match, MCC Member Philip Ring, the Club’s only Member with Down’s Syndrome, was the guest of honour at the toss, which was won by MCC and the hosts elected to bat first.
A fine 94 from Luke Schlemmer was the highlight of the batting card for MCC but some tight bowling restricted the Club to 215 for 7, with Liam O’Brien the pick of the ECB bowling with 2 for 33.
With a half-century from Ronnie Jackson and knocks of 45 from Dan Bowser, and an unbeaten 46 from O’Brien, the ECB timed their chase perfectly, winning by five wickets with two overs to spare.
Tokeer Akhtar, who played in the first match and represents the England VI team, said: “Today was an absolute privilege. It was so unreal. To be playing at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, I still can’t get over it that I’m here and stood on the wicket. It’s probably the best day of my life.”
Away from the activity on the Main Ground, there was a host of sessions taking place around Lord’s to highlight Disability Cricket, including Table Cricket in the Pavilion, and VI matches on the Nursery Ground.
As well as the guest players from the opening match, Lord’s welcomed Australian international Nathan Lyon – who is an Ambassador to the Cricket Australia All Abilities Programs – and Surrey and England wicket-keeper Ben Foakes, who took part in various activities and spent time meeting those involved across the day.
"it was a privilege for MCC and Lord’s to have them here, not the other way round"
Nathan Lyon commented on Disability Cricket by saying: “I think it’s really important, the awareness that we can create, as we have the opportunity to make a community and make everyone aware that cricket is a sport for all.
“It is so welcoming and shows that you can come and make friends all around the world. It’s pretty amazing. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the day.”
MCC President, Mark Nicholas, said of the day: “It has certainly made me rejoice in the game’s ability to bring this joy to everybody. It is not a limited game, and today is proof of that.
“The skills are so extraordinary, I’m in awe. The players are raving about playing at Lord’s, but it was a privilege for MCC and Lord’s to have them here, not the other way round.”