This week, Ian Martin, an icon of cricket and disability cricket, speaks about his personal journey, the challenges he encountered, and his subsequent involvement in disability cricket. He reflects on the transition from his early connection with the sport, through his career in the Navy, to his lower limb disability that led him to give up playing. Martin also recounts his determination to remain involved in the sport led him to start using a wheelchair to play, get involved with the ECB as head of disability Cricket, and eventually pen down his experiences in his book 'How Cricket Saved My Life'. The conversation further delves into the landscape of disability cricket, the success it has achieved, and the innovations and potential changes in the future. Martin expresses his hopes for more inclusiveness, equal opportunities, and acceptance for players with disabilities, revealing his aspiration for the first centrally contracted disability cricketer by 2030.

Buy How Cricket Saved My Life here

00:08 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:39 Guest's Early Life and Introduction to Cricket01:31 Joining the Navy and Experiences04:17 Impact of Gulf War and Health Challenges05:56 Dealing with Disability and Leaving the Navy10:00 Rediscovering Cricket and Overcoming Challenges14:52 Transition into Disability Cricket Management18:20 Writing a Book and Sharing Personal Experiences29:47 Discussing the Shift in Awareness and Attitudes Toward Disabilities30:21 The Persistence of Prejudice and Bias31:40 The Impact of Societal Pressure on Discrimination32:05 The Role of 'Woke' Culture in Disability Discrimination33:04 The Journey of Disability Cricket at the ECB33:31 The Aspirations and Challenges of Disability Cricket34:59 The Success of the Disability Premier League35:34 Reflecting on the Progress of the England LD Setup35:52 The Struggles and Triumphs of the Learning Disability Trier38:16 The Potential for Global Scaling of Disability Cricket40:06 The Importance of Inclusivity in Cricket42:43 The Challenges and Opportunities in Growing Disability Cricket46:37 Success Stories in Disability Cricket54:37 The Future of Disability Cricket58:14 Advice for Youngsters with Disabilities Interested in CricketLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices