Full-time disability coaches

ENGLAND have named their first ever full-time disability coaches with Ross Hunter and Ian Salisbury earning the roles.

Former England international Salisbury has been appointed as the new head coach of the England Physical Disability (PD) team and Hunter will continue his work with the Visually Impaired (VI) side, now in a full-time capacity.

Salisbury, who has worked with the PD squad over the past two years as assistant coach, succeeds Qasim Ali who was recently appointed head coach of the ICC Academy in Dubai. Salisbury will combine his new role with continuing to support Mark Robinson and the England women’s team.

Hunter recently coached the VI side to the semi-finals of the Blind World Cup in India, before losing to Pakistan in the last four.

ECB’s Head of Disability Cricket, Ian Martin said: “This is an important step in disability cricket. I’m proud that we are the first to make such a step. It will increase the capacity of our coaches to work with performance squads and is further evidence of the improvement and culture shift within our national squads.”

Age: 47 Team: England Physical Disability

How exciting is it to be announced as full-time coach of England’s Physical Disability team?

I can’t wait, all the winter training is done, the season is about to get underway. We start playing a week on Sunday out at Arundel and I can’t wait to start the cricket.

There were changes when we got back from Dubai last year with Qasim Ali leaving but he’s got a fantastic job out there. The process for me of going from interim head coach, applying for the job and running the winter programme it’s been a lot of change. I have been assistant for two years, I know every player and the system and have been lucky enough to go full time.

What have you learned from your time as assistant coach?

I am learning more and more every day – it’s been the most wonderful two years as assistant. The head coach role became full-time and it was an absolute no-brainer to apply.

I love working with these guys, it’s an incredible honour, humbling and inspiring, so to apply and to be successful is amazing. The more and more I have coached I have realised that my coaching philosophy has changed. I have realised coaching is all about the people and the people we work with, I could not wish to work with a better bunch of guys.

How important is it for the physical disability side to have a full-time coach?

This is the first full-time coach anywhere in the world so fair play to the ECB for appointing two full-time coaches to two disability cricket teams. This is a huge step.

I am very aware in the 21st century we are really moving to a diverse world where everyone has a chance to shine which is hugely important and I think the ECB recognise that. ECB chief executive Tom Harrison is very aware it’s the right thing to do and how powerful it is. I am keen for the team to get out and about be known, I would love them to be coaching other disabled children. My dream would be to be in a World Cup final at Lord’s. We can inspire by the fact we have 11 cricketers who disabled people can empathise with showing off their great cricket skills.

Will your role with England women change?

I have worked with the women for a year and a half now and my role will slightly change. I won’t be travelling with them but I really enjoy working with them and I have every confidence in the team. I think they have a huge shout of winning at the World Cup this year. We are hoping to host a 2019 Physical Disability World Cup, so to watch Mark Robinson prepare and to be involved is a really good learning curve which can only benefit my job.