Downton takes inspiration from disability sides

Paul Downton has called on the England squad to watch videos of their disability counterparts ahead of the World Cup.

So inspired was Downton, the managing director of England cricket, by stories from the physical disability and blind squads that he has pledged to show Alastair Cook and his teams videos featuring footage of games and interviews with their players over the next few weeks. Downton will be in Sri Lanka for part of England's ODI tour.

Downton made the pledge as the ECB launched a "disability cricket pathway" at Lord's. The scheme is designed to encourage disabled people across England and Wales into playing cricket and letting them know that, if they show the requisite skills, a route exists that can lead from county cricket boards to the international game.

"If you think about the core values that we would like to see at the heart of English cricket - pride, humility, courage and excellence - they are all present within our disability squads," Downton said. "What you see with them is as inspirational as anything you will see anywhere in the sport.

"I definitely intend to show Alastair Cook and the guys these videos. They can only be inspired by them."

England's partially sighted team are about to depart for South Africa to participate in the Blind World Cup. Among their side is Mahomed Khatri, who lost his sight as a 16-year-old, but has developed into a leading batsman and recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for charity. His words, in particular, struck a chord with Downton.

"I do face some challenges," Khatri said. "But I try not to let them define me.

"When I first lost my sight, I remember thinking that life wasn't worth living any more. But when you really want something, you find a way. If I hadn't lost my sight I would never have stood on the top of Kilimanjaro or represented England at cricket."

If England's senior side, blessed with every advantage, are searching for fresh inspiration, they need look no further.