From the 2025 season, the Derbyshire disability county pathway will be take on centrally by the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation. The county disability teams provide those with a physical disability, learning disability, visual impairments, or hearing loss. The first ever DCF County Disability cricket winter training programme is now underway, with both seasoned and new players preparing for the upcoming season, led by a dedicated team of experienced coaches.
The D40 Squad plays a 40-over, hardball version of cricket and Derbyshire compete in the ECB National D40 Pursuit League. It is the premium offer of domestic county level disability cricket. This squad is made up of school and club players: experienced in playing a structured form of cricket i.e. regularly playing in Saturday leagues.
Coaching team: Tom Donaldson and Paul Allen
Super 9's regional is a softball cricket format for players taking part in county level disability cricket. It has built-in options that allows teams to agree to alter the format to suit the players needs on the day. The conventional option is 30 overs per side. Being played with a softball offers safety for players with limited mobility. Derbyshire currently play in the regional S9 league.
Coaching team: Tony Flavell and Bella Hopcraft
We also have a some Super 9's challenge matches scheduled, which will provide a relaxed, enjoyable form of cricket. The super 9's challenge players train with the S9 regional team.
We are excited to build on the great work by Derbyshire Disability Cricket Club, who previously ran the Disability County Teams, and continue to grow the elite versions of the disability game in Derbyshire. We hope to see players progress to play in the Disability Premier League (DPL) over the coming years. We passionately believe in forging a new way forward for all disability cricket by working with all Disability Champion Cricket Clubs to increase participation at club level, so that we have a greater base to select our county teams from going forward. Our primary aim being to work with the players to achieve success in the game, and longevity beyond the pathway.
Eligibility Criteria and other helpful information about the National Cricket League can be found here - National Disabled Cricket League.
Calling all previous and new players!
The Derbyshire Cricket Foundation warmly invite you to our open observation sessions for the Disability County cricket pathway.
Super 9s is an entry level cricket format for players taking part in county level disability cricket. It had built in options that allows teams to agree to alter the format to suit the players needs on the day. The conventional option is 30 overs per side. It is played with a soft ball, which offers safety for players with limited mobility.
This is a form of disability cricket played with a conventional hard pink cricket ball. It is the premium offer of domestic county level disability cricket.
For new players, the eligibility criteria has changed. Please see the below links to the ECB eligibility criteria. Please ensure you read this thoroughly and make sure you have all the required information. This affects players with a learning disability (LD) and those with a physical disability (PD). The requirements for players with hearing loss remain unchanged.
Please click HERE for Eligibility Guidelines for players with a Physical Disability, Learning Disability and players with Hearing Loss or who are Deaf
D40 - 14th December at OWZAT Alfreton 9:30-11am
S9 - 7th December at OWZAT Alfreton 9:30-11am
If you are interested in these programmes please fill in this form if you are interested in coming to our open observations
HereIf you think you may qualify to play and you would like to be involved, please contact the Disability Development officer, Bella Hopcraft, at [email protected]
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