WIRRAL cricketer Chris Edwards will lead England Men’s Learning Disability team on a tour to South Africa in November to compete in a tri-series against the hosts and Australia.

Edwards, who plays for Caldy Cricket Club in the Liverpool Competition and Tridents in the Disability Premier League, will captain a squad that includes three uncapped players – Jaidev Charan and Benjamin Mason (both Middlesex) and Alfie Pyle from Sussex – as they seek to defend the trophy they won last time out in 2017.

Edwards says: “We have worked hard throughout the summer, and I am looking forward to welcoming our three new squad members and seeing them in action, a first tour is always exciting and each of them will add to our squad with different skillsets.

“It is a few years since we played South Africa 2017 in England, while we played Australia last year in Brisbane, and we’re looking forward to trying to defend our trophy.”

Head of Disability Cricket at ECB, Ian Martin, added: “Our national disability squads have a really exciting winter to look forward to. The number of debutants that the squad has evidences the growth in our side of the sport and an increasing talent pool.

“I am looking forward to seeing Chris Edwards and the LD side defending their Tri-Nations title next month in South Africa.”