We are incredibly proud of cricketer, Rhiannon Douglass (Year 11), who was selected to play in an ECB Pan-disability match, the first of its kind for women anywhere in the world!
A keen and talented cricketer, Rhiannon has been an integral part of the cricket setup at BGS since it was introduced as a major sport in Summer 2022. She currently plays County cricket for the Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire U15s and also represents Ampthill Town Cricket Club in the U15s and Women’s teams.
Rhiannon reflected on this momentous occasion: “I took part in the world's first Pan-Disability Women's cricket match on 27th August. The team was made up of people who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and are deaf or hard of hearing. Previously the ECB had individual women’s teams. But last year they trialled a new men's Pan-Disability premier league, which turned out really well. And as a result, the ECB then decided to try and take this opportunity to trial it with the women.
“After attending the ECAD deaf training sessions over winter, I was invited to take part in this amazing occasion and had a training session a week before the match took place. The training sessions and match were held at Loughborough University, which is the home for the England Cricket Performance Centre. The ground was incredible and the indoor nets looked so cool!
“Our team consisted of 15 women and girls and we were up against a non-disabled women's team local to the area. We were called the Pandas, which was great because it also stands for Pan-Disability! Everyone there just loved cricket and we all gelled so well considering we only had two training sessions and never played a match with each other before. We had so much fun laughing and still playing with determination.
“Two t20s were played. We won the first one, then unfortunately lost the second. There was great cricket played all round! In the first match, I took 1-8 off 3 overs! And I didn't need to bat as the top 3 chased the score down. In the 2nd match, I came in at 3 and top scored with 27 runs. I kept for the first 10 overs and fielded for the rest of the game.
“Next year we'll be doing some weekend training camps in the winter and more matches over summer! I've attached a couple of pictures, and don't mind talking to you when I see you soon!”
