Worcestershire spinner, Ben Sutton, has been named in the England Men’s Physical Disability squad for the five-game tour of India in January.
Sutton, part of the Worcestershire CCC pathway programme from the age of 10, represented the full county side in various age groups.
The slow left-armer has been included in a 15 strong party and it will represent the first international cricket for the England Men’s PD team since 2019.
Sutton has a tarsal condition where the bones are fused in his left ankle.
He only started playing disability cricket in 2018.
The following year he was named in the England squad for the 2019 Physical Disability T20 World Series which was held at New Road.
Sutton was part of the Tridents squad in the inaugural Disability Premier League in 2022 and also plays club cricket for Barnards Green.
England will play five T20 matches in Ahmedabad and Udaipur.
Captain Callum Flynn said: “For us as a squad, we feel this is the pinnacle. We know India are giants within the cricket world and we feel that they, alongside us in England, could really lead from the front in putting Physical Disability cricket on the map and take it to new heights.
“Winning in India is the toughest challenge for any England side and we are relishing that challenge. This is the most talented squad we have had and we feel if we can adapt quickly, we have a really good balance to our squad to win on Indian soil.”
England Disability Performance Manager Jane Powell said: “It’s been four years since our England Men’s Physical Disability squad have played any international cricket and we are very excited to see how we have developed since then.
“With a few retirements and new players surfacing it is a slightly changed squad. Representing England is the pinnacle for any cricketer and so I am pleased for all the players that have been selected for this tour. I am confident that we have selected a squad that can represent us well.”
The tournament is due to be played between 24 January 2024 and 7 February 2024. The final schedule for the matches will be shared soon.
