‘Is this real?’: Mooroopna’s Michael Ford reflects on National Cricket Inclusion Championships glory

Forming part of Victoria’s lethal bowling attack, the leg-spinner saved his best performance for last, taking a hat-trick in the final against Tasmania to lead his team to the title.

A fairytale ending to a perfect week, Ford gave his recollection of events and described what was the “best feeling” he had had on a cricket field.

“Apparently it was all in the plan of our coach Billy Grummett, he didn’t tell me until the drinks break at the 15th over that I was going to get a bowl and he told me to just toss it up,” Ford said.

“I felt good coming up to the crease and then I quickly got the first wicket, which was an easy catch to cover, the second was an LBW where I bowled it a little flatter so it would hit the pitch and skid.

“That set me up for the third one which, in all honesty, was a pretty bad delivery which nearly bounced twice, but luckily the batter hit it right up in the air and got caught.

“The memories of that were just so good, I took off with one finger in the air celebrating and then all the boys got around me and roughed up my hair.

“I’ve never had a better feeling on a cricket field.”

While the week culminated in this magical moment, for Ford the opportunity to represent Victoria made the championships the highlight of his career.

Ford, who has Aspergers Syndrome, never dreamed he would be able to play representative cricket until one of his close friends at Mooroopna Cricket Club, Michael Van Dorrser, encouraged him to go and trial for the state’s NCIC squad.

“I didn’t know too much about it until Michael asked if I was keen to try out, so I thought ‘why not, I’ll give it a go’, and I was lucky enough to get selected,” he said.

“It was such a big honour to be able to play for Victoria, for Cricket Australia to make something like this possible for people with an intellectual disability it is just so wonderful.”

Travelling to Queensland with a group of like-minded cricket lovers, on the field the championships were a complete success for Ford and his teammates who went undefeated and romped to the title.

Reflecting on his performances throughout the week, he said he could not have been more proud of what he and the squad produced.

“The first game was against New South Wales and I started with 2-9 from three overs, so I was pretty confident after that,” he said.

“Backing up the next day we played Queensland, I bowled okay, but missed an opportunity off my own bowling, but I moved on and played my role against SA and WA to help us get wins.

“We then played Tasmania before facing them again in the final which we won, so overall I could not have been happier with how it went.”

In a week filled with surreal feelings, there is one that sticks out more than any other.

And that was walking up on stage following the final and receiving his championship medallion.

“The presentation was something I will never forget,” Ford said.

“Just getting up on that stage, when they read my name out I thought to myself ‘is this real?’.

“Being able to say I was part of that team is something I will always cherish.”

Having scaled great heights on the national stage, Ford’s attention now shifts back to Mooroopna Cricket Club and making another finals run.

He explained what made the club such a special place for him.

“I love playing for Mooroopna, I debuted when I was 14 and now I’m 32, so it has been nearly 20 years of my life playing here.

“The culture of the club is very strong, we’re looking at possibly five teams in finals, so it is an exciting time to be around Mooroopna and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds.”