Unbeaten since 2010 - is this English cricket's most successful side?

The touring group from England LD is set to participate in a tri-series alongside Australia and South Africa.

Our victory is expected by many. However, as long as we utilize our abilities and display our strengths, I believe we will not encounter any major setbacks.

The reaction you anticipate from any cricket team leader before a match is what you would hear.

Chris Edwards is not a typical captain of an international cricket team. Furthermore, his team is also not a typical international cricket team.

Edwards is leading the England learning disability team in a tri-series against South Africa and Australia this weekend. Their team has impressive numbers that Jos Buttler's struggling white-ball team can only hope for.

Starting from their defeat against Australia in 2010, the LD team of England has managed to maintain an unbeaten record in all series. They have only faced defeat on two occasions in 35 games.

The latest setback happened in a T20 match during the Ashes tournament in Australia last summer. The team lost by a mere one point and it was their first time playing under illuminated conditions.

During their journey towards a victorious 7-1 series outcome, the England team achieved a 96-run triumph in the following match. Jack Perry, the opening batsman, played an outstanding innings by hitting 118 runs off just 63 deliveries.

Edwards and his group of comrades have been through quite a journey.

Edwards, who celebrated his 30th birthday in March, was first selected to play for England in 2009 when he was just 16 years old. His teammate, vice-captain Jonny Gale, only turned 17 when he joined the team for his debut tour in 2011. The remaining four players of the 14-man squad - Dan Bowser, Robert Hewitt, Alex Jervis, and Ronnie Jackson - all made their respective first appearances together at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2015.

According to Edwards, playing wheelchair rugby has given him a sense of who he is. In the past, having a learning disability was stigmatized and not well understood. However, nowadays there is more acceptance, with more individuals revealing their disabilities and more young people showing interest in joining the sport.

This is me. Wearing this shirt is a big deal. You need to work hard to earn the privilege and once you do, you should know what it stands for and the principles of the team. It's a very important thing for me.

Gale, who is similar to Edwards in being on the autism spectrum, talks articulately about how cricket has a personal significance - as a tool to help you progress in life like a mode of transportation - and the importance he places on players being ambassadors for the sport.

Gale chuckles as he admits, "To be honest, I do consider my statistics, but it's not as crucial as promoting acceptance of disabilities in society and advancing towards inclusivity."

The support staff behind England's four disability teams commonly use certain phrases as mantras. These sayings include "good behaviours" and "people come first, before cricket." They are frequently mentioned during team discussions and activities.

In this situation, what you do and say carries a lot of weight. Recently, the team, which included new members Alfie Pyle (who was recognized as the rising star for the Variety Club Disability Sports Awards in 2023), Ben Mason, and Jaidev Charan, underwent an assessment of their physical fitness and skills training at Loughborough's National Cricket Performance Centre. They were tested on batting and bowling in various scenarios, as well as their fielding abilities.

Lauren Rowles, the head coach, is accompanying the team for the second time. She took over the position from Derek Morgan, the coach who served for a prolonged period of time.

Rowles remembers the guidance he received, which was to simply be a decent individual. When it comes to coaching individuals with LD (learning disabilities), the approach is the same for everyone. The coach adjusts to the individual's specifications, regardless of gender, identity, or disability.

What impressed Rowles was the liveliness of the group and the eagerness of the athletes to put in the effort. "They enjoy it, they enjoy being together, they enjoy gaining knowledge," she explains. "They don't have many chances to receive coaching, so they're keen to inquire about your expertise and understand your methods, so they can attempt to implement them."

Following their impressive performance in Australia, there is a strong belief that England has the potential to make it to the final at SuperSport Park in Pretoria on 19 November. They will have to face each opponent in three contests, starting with Australia on Sunday.

Edwards, who received the British Empire Medal in 2021 for his contribution to the game, is currently a disability cricket head coach in Cheshire. However, he is fully aware that he cannot rely on this achievement and must continue to work hard.

He says that even though we are considered the top players, it could be more advantageous for the other team since we're engaged in T20 cricket.

The duration of the games is reduced and it provides them with an opportunity. The victory of one point still bothers everyone and that is what Australia will concentrate on.