North Devon and England batsman Dan Bowser with the INAS Global Trophy

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

NORTH Devon batsman Dan Bowser was named man of the series after playing a staring role for the England Learning Disability XI in their INAS Global Games series win over Australia.

Bowser, who arrived back on Bideford from Australia on Monday night, played in all eight games during the 17-day tour.

England played Australia in two formats – 50-over and Twenty20 – and won every match staged at venues in and around Brisbane. Overall he had an aggregate of 499 runs for the tour at a remarkable average of 99.8. 

Across the ODI and T20 series, Bowser won four man-of-the-match awards and was the player of the series in both formats. He made 131 in the third game of the 50/50 series

In the five-game T20 series he scored 277 runs at an average of 68 and a strike rate of 175. Bowser’s top score was 99 not out in round four of the T20 series.

It is a record to be proud of, although Bowser was full of apprehension in the build up to the series. Although the England squad trained together for almost a year before flying out to Australia, Bowser felt he was out of form.

“I went out low on confidence after an indifferent season in the league for North Devon and wondered if I would be able to put the bad balls away when they came?” said Bowser.

“Once I got out there I decided I had to come of the pitch after batting knowing I had given it my all.

“All the hard work we had put in training for the series paid off and I ended up doing far better than I ever imagined.”

Bowser had three scores in the 90s -91 in the first one-day game, 90 in the opening T20 and 99 not out in round four – which helped him rack up award after award.

The 31-year-old left-hander won four man-of-the-match awards, was named man of the series in both formats of the game AND collected a gold medal as a member of the victorious England team.

“I have many wonderful memories of this trip, but standing on the podium and receiving the gold medal tops them all,” said Bowser, who qualifies for Learning Disability cricket due to a processing condition.

“The INAS Global Games are the biggest event in the world for sportsmen with an impairment and it was so good to be part of something important that was about more than cricket.”

Bowser has now played in three INAS-sponsored cricket tournaments – two in Australia and one in this country – and made 23 international appearances in all formats.

With a wife and young family at home in Bideford, it requires a sizeable commitment on Bowser’s part and the understanding of his family to play international cricket.

“I am so lucky to have the support of my family, who understand how important it is to me play international cricket,” said Bowser, a youth worker based in Bideford.

“I know I can’t play for ever, but I hope I have got at least one more series in me.”