Cricket Australia's All Abilities Championships, which also includes a tournament for players who are visually impaired and deaf, will be highlighted by the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Series. 

The tournament is being hosted by Cricket Australia and AUSRAPID, a national organisation established in 1986 to increase the sporting and recreational opportunities for all people with an integration disability within Australia.

The event will coincide with the last two weeks of the 2015 Cricket World Cup, bringing significant opportunities to raise awareness of the series and a positive legacy for the expansion of cricket pathways for players with an intellectual disability, INAS officials claim.

The first international series for cricketers with an intellectual disability was held in 2005.

Australia won three of the next four tournaments, with England the most recent series winners in 2011.

The INAS International Cricket Series, which involves four 40-over games and two Twenty20 matches, will provide the Australian team, who are coached by former Bermuda captain David Hemp, who played in England with Glamorgan and Warwickshire, with the chance to reassert their dominance. 



England's 15-strong party, captained by Cheshire's Chris Edwards and led by coach Derek Morgan, arrived in Australia last week to prepare for the series.

"We've managed to pull together a group of players who are really keen and enthusiastic, playing the game outside of this squad on a regular basis," said Morgan.

"A big part of the expectations on the players is that they are playing mainstream cricket as well, broadening their experience and opportunities to develop their skills.

"There's guys who are really motivated to work hard and achieve their potential.

"We want to make this experience as valuable as it can be to the players, we want to make every opportunity they have with this group as special as it can be and bring things into line as closely as we can with what they would experience in a professional environment."

The Series will start with a Twenty20 match on Tuesday (March 17) at Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club.

It will be followed by another Twenty20 match on Wednesday (March 18) at Camberwell Cricket Club.

The one day international series is then scheduled to start on Thursday (March 19) at Prahran Cricket Club and will be followed by matches at Northcote Cricket Club on March 20, Melbourne Cricket Club on March 23 and conclude at Carlton Cricket Club on March 24. 

Chris Edwards will captain England's intellectual disability team during against Australia ©ECB

Alongside the the series for players with an intellectual disability, will be the Blind Cricket National Championships and a deaf cricket exhibition match. 

It will be the first time blind, deaf and cricketers with an intellectual disability are brought together to compete simultaneously.

The Championships align with Cricket Australia's All Abilities Cricket Strategy which aims to double participation of people with a disability by 2018.

"It is important that Australian Cricket continues to make the game more accessible to people from all walks of life," said Andrew Ingleton, Cricket Australia's executive general manager of game and market development.

"One in five Australians have a disability, so we believe it is important to provide high performance opportunities for cricketers who are blind, deaf or have an intellectual disability.

"Those players now have the chance to represent Australia at international tournaments including world cups and the Inas International Cricket Series.

"It is all about providing people with opportunities to play the game and reach their full potential."

Scores, match reports and a live blog will be available throughout the All Abilities Championships by clicking here. 

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