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 Introduction
00:39 Guest's Early Life and Introduction to Cricket
01:31 Joining the Navy and Experiences
04:17 Impact of Gulf War and Health Challenges
05:56 Dealing with Disability and Leaving the Navy
10:00 Rediscovering Cricket and Overcoming Challenges
14:52 Transition into Disability Cricket Management
18:20 Writing a Book and Sharing Personal Experiences
29:47 Discussing the Shift in Awareness and Attitudes Toward Disabilities
30:21 The Persistence of Prejudice and Bias
31:40 The Impact of Societal Pressure on Discrimination
32:05 The Role of 'Woke' Culture in Disability Discrimination
33:04 The Journey of Disability Cricket at the ECB
33:31 The Aspirations and Challenges of Disability Cricket
34:59 The Success of the Disability Premier League
35:34 Reflecting on the Progress of the England LD Setup
35:52 The Struggles and Triumphs of the Learning Disability Trier
38:16 The Potential for Global Scaling of Disability Cricket
40:06 The Importance of Inclusivity in Cricket
42:43 The Challenges and Opportunities in Growing Disability Cricket
46:37 Success Stories in Disability Cricket
54:37 The Future of Disability Cricket
58:14 Advice for Youngsters with Disabilities Interested in Cricket