Mowatt called up to England INAS Global Games squad

Kent Disability all-rounder and Kent Cricket Retail Assistant Andrew Mowatt has been selected for England’s Learning Disability squad on their tour of Australia, beginning on 28 September.

Mowatt, 25, is from Sittingbourne, and plays his club cricket for Gore Court.

On being selected for England’s tour of Australia, he said: “I’ve been working so hard to get in the team for two years and it’s a huge honour to represent my country.

“When I got the call, I couldn’t say a word. I was speechless.

“I then went to the Shop to tell Barrie first, as he’s also my coach. Then I told my mum!”

Between October 8-18, England will take on the Aussies in three One-Day Internationals and five IT20s, all taking place in Brisbane.

The IT20s form part of the INAS Global Games – world’s biggest sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Five players will be touring with an England squad for the first time – Kent’s Mowatt, Jordyn Dore, Martin Henderson, Kieran McKinney and 16-year-old Kester Sainsbury. Edwards, meanwhile, is embarking on his fifth tour and third as captain.

England Learning Disability Head Coach, Derek Morgan, said: “We’re excited to be able to take a strong squad to Australia for the INAS Global Games.

“Matches against Australia always bring an added intensity and I’m sure both sides will be spurred on by the inspirational performances we saw in this summer’s Specsavers Ashes series.

“We’ve enjoyed good success in Australia in recent years and hope to continue that run on this tour.”

Ian Martin, ECB Head of Disability Cricket, said: “It’s great to have cricket as part of a global multi-sport event such as the INAS Games and we hope this will increase the exposure for our athletes and our sport.

“The Games are a great opportunity for our players to showcase their cricketing skills and also their values and behaviours as international athletes.

“We enjoyed a fantastic Physical Disability World Series on home soil this summer, where England finished runners-up and I can’t wait to see our Learning Disability squad put in equally inspirational performances next month.”

England Learning Disability squad for tour of Australia

• Chris Edwards (Cheshire) captain
• Dan Bowser (Devon)
• Jordyn Dore (Hampshire)
• Jonathan Gale (Surrey)
• Ronnie Jackson (Essex)
• Alex Jervis (Yorkshire)
• Martin Henderson (Middlesex)
• Rob Hewitt (Yorkshire)
• Dan Levey (Surrey)
• Kieran McKinney (Staffordshire)
• Andrew Mowatt (Kent)
• Jack Perry (Cheshire)
• Kester Sainsbury (Middlesex)
• Tom Wilson (Lancashire)
• Tayler Young (Surrey)

England Learning Disability tour of Australia fixtures

Tue 8 Oct: 1st ODI v Australia – Dauth Park, Beenleigh

Thu 10 Oct: 2nd ODI v Australia – Dauth Park, Beenleigh

Fri 11 Oct: 3rd ODI v Australia – Dauth Park, Beenleigh

Sat 12 Oct: INAS Global Games opens

Sun 13 Oct: 1st IT20 v Australia – South Brisbane DCC

Mon 14 Oct: 2nd IT20 v Australia – South Brisbane DCC

Wed 16 Oct: 3rd IT20 v Australia – Allan Border Field

Thu 17 Oct: 4th IT20 v Australia – Allan Border Field

Fri 18 Oct: 5th IT20 v Australia – Allan Border Field

Sat 19 Oct: INAS Global Games closes