Student Battling Rare Hip Disease Knocks Lancashire County Cricket Chiefs For Six

A student battling a rare hip disease has been signed up for a county cricket side after knocking scouts for six. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nicki Jones has suffered with the bone condition Perthes since birth, but that hasn’t stopped him making strides on the sporting stage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Currently studying for a BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Nicki has been chosen to represent Lancashire County Cricket club’s physical disability squad, having impressed as a swing bowler during a the open season with able-bodied cricketers and again at the regional talent weekend held at Edgbaston. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He was also one of the drivers behind the Welsh Disabled Golf Association, and says keeping active in both body and mind has helped him live a full life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now pursuing his dream of becoming an occupational therapist, the 33 year-old is enjoying life in north east Wales having moved from Brecon two years ago. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Perthes is a serious bone condition but to be honest I try not to let it bother me, and it certainly doesn’t stop me doing the things I want to do,” said Nicki. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“That was certainly the case with cricket, which is something I came late to. I’m a bowler, a swing bowler, but would like to eventually be a solid all-rounder and develop further. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I love the sport and playing for Lancashire will be a great platform for me to hopefully reach my goal of making the national team.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nicki says he also loves life at Wrexham Glyndwr, and wants to thank his lecturers on the Occupational Therapy degree for the support shown to him since he arrived. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

That included help with study skills, as during the second year of his studies Nicki found he had dyslexia. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was offered a place at several universities but once I came here and met the lecturers I decided straight away that this was the place for me,” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They were so friendly and it was made clear that here at Wrexham Glyndwr University you’re not just a number, there’s a more personal approach – that’s certainly proven to be the case.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “Finding out I had dyslexia while I was here was also a big shock, but made so much sense and has since meant I can tackle any learning problems I had before. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The University is renowned for its support of students with dyslexia and Irlen syndrome, and that’s playing a big part in helping me achieve my dream of a degree.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​