England cricket's learning disability side prepare for tri-series in South Africa

The England LD touring party for a tri-series with Australia and South Africa

"People expect us to win - as long as we execute our skills and show our qualities, I don't think we'll go far wrong."

It's the kind of response you would expect from any international cricket captain on the eve of battle.

But Chris Edwards isn't your average international cricket captain. And his isn't your average international cricket side.

Edwards, whose England learning disability team take on hosts South Africa and Australia in a tri-series starting this weekend, have the kind of numbers Jos Buttler's beleaguered white-ball team can only dream of at present.

Since 2010's loss to Australia, England LD have gone unbeaten in any series - losing just twice in 35 games.

The most recent reverse, a T20 encounter in last summer's Ashes success down under, was by just one run - the first time the team had ever played under lights.

England, on their way to a 7-1 series success, triumphed by 96 runs in the next game, opener Jack Perry smashing 118 off 63 balls.

England captain Chris Edwards bats in the nets

It has been some ride for Edwards and his band of brothers.

Edwards, who turned 30 in March, made his England debut in 2009 at 16; vice-captain Jonny Gale turned 17 during his first tour in 2011. Four more of the 14-man travelling party - Dan Bowser, Robert Hewitt, Alex Jervis and Ronnie Jackson - took their respective bows together at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2015.

"It's given me an identity," Edwards says. "When I started, it was a massive taboo if someone had a learning disability - people weren't educated about it. Now there's an openness - more people coming forward, more youngsters wanting to play our game.

"This is who I am. Putting on this shirt is not an easy thing to achieve. You have to earn the right to wear it, and when you do, you have to understand what it means, and what the ethos of this squad means. For me, it's massive."

Gale, who like Edwards is on the autism spectrum, speaks eloquently about cricket's value on a personal level - "a vehicle to help push you further, a car you can use to drive through life" - and the ambassadorial role he feels the players have.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about my numbers as well," Gale laughs, "but at the same time it's not as significant as helping society embrace disability more - and moving forwards."

There are common mantras used by the backroom staff across England's four disability sides - phrases such as 'good behaviours', or 'people first, cricketers second' crop up regularly.

Actions and words speak loudly in this set-up. Last weekend at Loughborough's National Cricket Performance Centre, the squad - including newcomers Alfie Pyle (Variety Club Disability Sports Awards rising star for 2023), Ben Mason and Jaidev Charan - were put through fitness tests and fielding drills, and a series of batting and bowling scenarios.

Head coach Lauren Rowles is on her second trip with the squad, having inherited the job from the long-serving Derek Morgan.

"The advice he gave me was: 'just be a good person'," Rowles recalls. "People often ask what the differences are in coaching the LD lads - you just coach the person in front of you. Everybody has different needs, male, female, however they identify, whether they have a disability or not."

What struck Rowles was the vibrancy of the set-up and the players' appetite for work. "They love it, they love being around one another, they love learning," she says. "They don't get that many opportunities to get coached, so they just want to ask you questions and know what you know, so they can try and do what you say."

After that resounding success in Australia, hopes are high that after three contests against each opponent, starting with Australia on Sunday, England will contest the final at Pretoria's SuperSport Park on 19 November.

Edwards, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2021 for services to the game - his day job is disability cricket lead coach across Cheshire - won't be taking anything for granted.

"We might be down as favourites, but as we're playing T20 cricket, it probably suits the opposition better," he says.

"The games are shorter and it gives them a chance. And Australia will focus on that one-run win - which still bugs everyone."