ST HELENS’ Derek Morgan believes his England Learning Disabilities cricket team has the chance to do something special in Australia.

Morgan is the England Learning Disabilities cricket team head coach and named his 15-man squad that will travel to Melbourne to play four one-day internationals and two T20 matches as part of the INAS International Cricket Series Australia v England, with the first game taking place on March 17.

The 35-year-old took the role in 2010 and led his team to two victories over the Australians in 2011’s Tri-Nations event in South Africa.

And Morgan admits he is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against the Aussies over six matches this time around.

“I’m really excited about the chance to take on Australia and I think it’s going to be a brilliant tour,” he said.

“The chance to dedicate our attention to one team and one competition is something that is not always readily available to us.

“Obviously the added incentive of it being a traditional rivalry in their environment and the challenges that brings is fabulous for us as coaches and players.

“I’m particularly excited about it and I think the reaction of the players when they found out showed they feel the same about it.

“The opportunity to get into a prolonged series is something that is really appealing to all the players.

“The boys are working really effectively towards the tour and we are really happy with where we are at right now.”

Despite their whitewash of Australia back in 2011 Morgan is wary of complacency this time around.

And he says that he fully expects their opponents to have made significant strides since the last time they met.

“From the initial meetings with the players it was just obvious that they were a fascinating group to work with,” Morgan added.

“One of the challenges we have within our disability environment is that we are on a competition cycle that spans about three years.

“So what happens to squads within those three years is something we don’t get a lot of intelligence about.

“There will be some familiar faces on their squad but how those players have developed since we last met them is a mystery.

“So it might be a bit of a cliché but we just look at it from a perspective of have our players developed and given them the best opportunity to perform to their best.

“If we do then we are fairly confident that we will be a very competitive side.”

ECB is an inclusive organisation providing support and a pathway for disability cricket from grassroots to elite. Follow the England Learning Disability squad in Australia at www.ecb.co.uk. To find out how to get involved in Learning Disability cricket contact your local cricket board