Latest news with #DisabilityCricketDay
South Wales Argus
11 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
No doubt for Topley that Bumrah is greatest bowler ever
It is something that England international Topley has seen up close, having played with Bumrah at Mumbai Indians during the most recent edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). And while there is often discussion around the best batters and bowlers of all time, for Topley, when it comes to the latter, there isn't any. 'For me, I don't think it's a debate,' said Topley, speaking at Lord's Taverners' National Table Cricket Finals Day – a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. 'It's probably the rare occasion in sport where you get a lot of people agreeing on the greatest ever. And we're seeing with Bumrah there's no real caveat that anyone else has thrown into the ring either. 'He's in a league of his own in the present day. There are the greats of yesteryear that me, and people my age, never really saw play, but watching some of those players, Bumrah, he's right up there with those people, which is incredible. 'T20 is obviously a different form to Tests, but spending time with him at the IPL, he's humble, he's competitive, he's got it all. He's a superstar in every sense of the word.' Brendon McCullum's outfit took a 1-0 series lead in West Yorkshire on Tuesday after chasing down 371 – England's second-highest successful pursuit in Test cricket. Front and centre of England's charge was opener Ben Duckett, whose brilliant and destructive 149 blunted India's bowling attack and broke the back of their target. 🏆 Congratulations to your new Table Cricket champions… @WGSB! Another fantastic day at the @HomeOfCricket - thank you to everyone involved for making this a special day alongside the wider Disability Cricket Day with @ECB_cricket and @MCCOfficial 🙌 June 25, 2025 By the time the Nottinghamshire man departed - caught in the covers trying to dispatch the ball for what would have been his 22nd boundary - his exploits had well and truly swung proceedings in England's favour, with Jamie Smith later clobbering a six to seal victory. It was a second innings assault that not even Bumrah could stop - the quick failing to take a wicket during his 19 overs - and Topley was full of praise for the way England negated his threat. Like all greats, they do have days where they show they're human after all. 'It's incredible that on the last day, he [Bumrah] didn't take a wicket,' Topley continued. 'And that in itself is such a rare occurrence. 'But that's a testament to how well England played him and how well they performed.' There were plenty of other impressive performances throughout the match too. Ollie Pope's first-innings hundred, Harry Brook's destructive 99, Zak Crawley's 65 during his first-wicket partnership of 188 with Duckett second time around and Josh Tongue's match haul of seven wickets to name but a few. And Topley believes the quality on show in Leeds sets the rest of the series up for more absorbing cricket to come. 'Headingley always seems to throw up these amazing chases, and credit has to go to the pitch there, it's famous for its day-five finishes,' he added. 'And the cricket that was played on it was second to none. 'It was entertaining from ball one on day one, right the way up until the finish. 'Hopefully it sets up for an amazing series and they'll be a lot more incredible cricket to be played.' On his own return to the international set-up, Topley who last played for England in November 2024 and is currently enjoying a fine run of form with Surrey, said: 'It takes two to tango. 'I definitely know I've got the ability, so we'll have to see.'
Powys County Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
No doubt for Topley that Bumrah is greatest bowler ever
Reece Topley has played with some of the finest bowlers around, but none come close to Jasprit Bumrah, who he describes as the 'greatest ever'. The Indian superstar may have been on the losing side at Headingley during the first Test against England, but Bumrah's first innings showing, with figures of 5-110, was yet another masterclass in fast bowling. It is something that England international Topley has seen up close, having played with Bumrah at Mumbai Indians during the most recent edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). And while there is often discussion around the best batters and bowlers of all time, for Topley, when it comes to the latter, there isn't any. 'For me, I don't think it's a debate,' said Topley, speaking at Lord's Taverners' National Table Cricket Finals Day – a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. 'It's probably the rare occasion in sport where you get a lot of people agreeing on the greatest ever. And we're seeing with Bumrah there's no real caveat that anyone else has thrown into the ring either. 'He's in a league of his own in the present day. There are the greats of yesteryear that me, and people my age, never really saw play, but watching some of those players, Bumrah, he's right up there with those people, which is incredible. 'T20 is obviously a different form to Tests, but spending time with him at the IPL, he's humble, he's competitive, he's got it all. He's a superstar in every sense of the word.' Brendon McCullum's outfit took a 1-0 series lead in West Yorkshire on Tuesday after chasing down 371 – England's second-highest successful pursuit in Test cricket. Front and centre of England's charge was opener Ben Duckett, whose brilliant and destructive 149 blunted India's bowling attack and broke the back of their target. 🏆 Congratulations to your new Table Cricket champions… @WGSB! Another fantastic day at the @HomeOfCricket - thank you to everyone involved for making this a special day alongside the wider Disability Cricket Day with @ECB_cricket and @MCCOfficial 🙌 — Lord's Taverners (@LordsTaverners) June 25, 2025 By the time the Nottinghamshire man departed - caught in the covers trying to dispatch the ball for what would have been his 22nd boundary - his exploits had well and truly swung proceedings in England's favour, with Jamie Smith later clobbering a six to seal victory. It was a second innings assault that not even Bumrah could stop - the quick failing to take a wicket during his 19 overs - and Topley was full of praise for the way England negated his threat. Like all greats, they do have days where they show they're human after all. 'It's incredible that on the last day, he [Bumrah] didn't take a wicket,' Topley continued. 'And that in itself is such a rare occurrence. 'But that's a testament to how well England played him and how well they performed.' There were plenty of other impressive performances throughout the match too. Ollie Pope's first-innings hundred, Harry Brook's destructive 99, Zak Crawley's 65 during his first-wicket partnership of 188 with Duckett second time around and Josh Tongue's match haul of seven wickets to name but a few. And Topley believes the quality on show in Leeds sets the rest of the series up for more absorbing cricket to come. 'Headingley always seems to throw up these amazing chases, and credit has to go to the pitch there, it's famous for its day-five finishes,' he added. 'And the cricket that was played on it was second to none. 'It was entertaining from ball one on day one, right the way up until the finish. 'Hopefully it sets up for an amazing series and they'll be a lot more incredible cricket to be played.' On his own return to the international set-up, Topley who last played for England in November 2024 and is currently enjoying a fine run of form with Surrey, said: 'It takes two to tango. 'I definitely know I've got the ability, so we'll have to see.'
Glasgow Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
No doubt for Topley that Bumrah is greatest bowler ever
It is something that England international Topley has seen up close, having played with Bumrah at Mumbai Indians during the most recent edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). And while there is often discussion around the best batters and bowlers of all time, for Topley, when it comes to the latter, there isn't any. 'For me, I don't think it's a debate,' said Topley, speaking at Lord's Taverners' National Table Cricket Finals Day – a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. 'It's probably the rare occasion in sport where you get a lot of people agreeing on the greatest ever. And we're seeing with Bumrah there's no real caveat that anyone else has thrown into the ring either. 'He's in a league of his own in the present day. There are the greats of yesteryear that me, and people my age, never really saw play, but watching some of those players, Bumrah, he's right up there with those people, which is incredible. 'T20 is obviously a different form to Tests, but spending time with him at the IPL, he's humble, he's competitive, he's got it all. He's a superstar in every sense of the word.' Brendon McCullum's outfit took a 1-0 series lead in West Yorkshire on Tuesday after chasing down 371 – England's second-highest successful pursuit in Test cricket. Front and centre of England's charge was opener Ben Duckett, whose brilliant and destructive 149 blunted India's bowling attack and broke the back of their target. 🏆 Congratulations to your new Table Cricket champions… @WGSB! Another fantastic day at the @HomeOfCricket - thank you to everyone involved for making this a special day alongside the wider Disability Cricket Day with @ECB_cricket and @MCCOfficial 🙌 June 25, 2025 By the time the Nottinghamshire man departed - caught in the covers trying to dispatch the ball for what would have been his 22nd boundary - his exploits had well and truly swung proceedings in England's favour, with Jamie Smith later clobbering a six to seal victory. It was a second innings assault that not even Bumrah could stop - the quick failing to take a wicket during his 19 overs - and Topley was full of praise for the way England negated his threat. Like all greats, they do have days where they show they're human after all. 'It's incredible that on the last day, he [Bumrah] didn't take a wicket,' Topley continued. 'And that in itself is such a rare occurrence. 'But that's a testament to how well England played him and how well they performed.' There were plenty of other impressive performances throughout the match too. Ollie Pope's first-innings hundred, Harry Brook's destructive 99, Zak Crawley's 65 during his first-wicket partnership of 188 with Duckett second time around and Josh Tongue's match haul of seven wickets to name but a few. And Topley believes the quality on show in Leeds sets the rest of the series up for more absorbing cricket to come. 'Headingley always seems to throw up these amazing chases, and credit has to go to the pitch there, it's famous for its day-five finishes,' he added. 'And the cricket that was played on it was second to none. 'It was entertaining from ball one on day one, right the way up until the finish. 'Hopefully it sets up for an amazing series and they'll be a lot more incredible cricket to be played.' On his own return to the international set-up, Topley who last played for England in November 2024 and is currently enjoying a fine run of form with Surrey, said: 'It takes two to tango. 'I definitely know I've got the ability, so we'll have to see.'
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Newton Abbot College reach National Table Cricket final
The team left Devon at five o'clock in the morning to head to the fabled Home of Cricket, where they faced off against 11 other schools from around the country in a festival of the inclusive sport. Newton Abbot were making their first appearance at Lord's but were far from overwhelmed at the occasion as they reached the final, where they were narrowly beaten by Wirral Grammar School for Boys to take a well-earned runners-up finish. 'We first entered table cricket last year for the first time,' said PE teacher Kelcey Pillage. 'We went to the area round and then the county round. This year we took two teams and this team were undefeated and came out on top to reach Lord's. 'We left at 5am this morning, we weren't sure if they were all going to make it but they were all there bright and early. 'Even just coming into London, they were looking out the windows and asking loads of questions. It's a huge thing for them that is very exciting. 'When we first drove into Lord's, they were starstruck by everything around them.' Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp. The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part. The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Pillage has seen firsthand. She added: 'We have a few students who come to our cricket club who love cricket but maybe can't access it as much as some of the other students. We have introduced them to this and they just love it. They get really involved and love the high success that they get from it. 'We have a team captain who has probably not been a team captain before, he loves the role and leading the team. Skills like that are so important.' Pupils also met cricket legends David Gower and Mike Gatting, and were presented with their medals by current England bowler Reece Topley. For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level. The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India. 'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Gower, who serves as president of the Lord's Taverners. 'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important. 'The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.'
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
School make lifelong memories at National Table Cricket Finals Day
The High School, Leckhampton made lifelong memories at Lord's as they took part in the National Table Cricket Finals Day. The Cheltenham school battled through regional rounds to take on 11 other schools at the Home of Cricket, and while they didn't take home the trophy, they revelled in playing at an iconic sporting venue. The school only started playing the sport this academic year but teacher Richard Gill explained how it has already taken off amongst pupils who loved their day in London. 'They have loved it,' he said. 'We rocked up at school at 5.45 in the morning, there was lots of energy on the bus on the way here. We have had some really good individual and team performances. 'We are quite a new school, so these pupils are the pioneers. Looking back at it in a few years' time, they will really appreciate what they have done and the amazing opportunity. 'It has been amazing. We didn't think we could achieve something like this at the start of the year. 'We have got several pupils hooked for life and they had never played it before this year.' Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp. The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part. The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Gill has seen first-hand. 'Their confidence has grown massively, they have met so many new people on their journey and they are quite happy to talk to them,' he added. 'They have a really strong sense of pride and ownership around table cricket. They are trying to get more people involved at school and everyone wants a bit of it now because they've got to a national final. Everyone at school is so proud of them.' For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level. The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India. 'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Lord's Taverners President and former England batter David Gower. 'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important. 'The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.'
