fighting all odds to become a victor

Iain Nairn is not your regular cricketer. 

Nairn lost his right leg at an early age due to a birth deformity, and has used a prosthetic limb ever since. However, it’s not something he has ever tried to hide.

In his interview with ICC Cricket 360, Nairn said, “I am really open for years. I have just worn shorts. I don’t try and make my prosthetic look like a limb. It’s a prosthetic and I am proud of it. Without it, I wouldn’t have been the person I am.”

Cricket always played a big role in the Nairn family. “Cricket’s been part of my life ever since I was a child. Dad played the game, my granddad played the game.”, Nain shared. With the encouragement and support of his family members, Nairn charted his way up the ranks, eventually becoming the captain of the England team.

He continued, “I lost my leg aged 16 months due to deformity, and at 16 months, my mom and dad made the decision to amputate it and I’ve run around on a prosthetic limb ever since then.”

Nairn started playing the game at an early age at Chester-le-Street. As an eight-year-old, he played club cricket, then got into the Under-13 side, and later on went to play for the Under-15s and Under-18s. He also played at school and for Durham County through his teenage years.

It was not before Nairn was 32 when he was invited to join the England team after being promoted by his county for training in 2012. He later led his nation to victory in the first-ever international tournament organized for physically disabled players involving five teams – Bangladesh, the host, England, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

Ian Martin, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s Head of Disability Cricket, spoke of Nairn, “The thing that stands out for me was the story of [him] overcoming disability and his talent as a cricketer. That’s how we first came to our attention.” He further added, “He looked [like] an exceptional cricketer and when you learn that he is an amputee, I mean… it just makes his story more and more remarkable.”

Nairn also dropped an invaluable piece of advice at the end of his interview. He said, “It’s one of those things again, where I think as people understand you and if you deal with your shortcomings whatever they are… if you deal with things in a way that actually is open and attracts people to you in the manner that you deal with it, you can overcome anything, and people don’t set out to upset and make your life a misery.” That’s awesome, isn’t it?

So, what’s stopping you from realizing your dreams? What shortcoming, disadvantage or disability is keeping you caged in the victim mindset? It’s time to delete it from your system, take charge of yourself and your passion, and start writing your own success story.