Blind Cricket
What is blind cricket?
Blind cricket is a wonderful and competitive sport for athletes with a vision impairment. Originally designed in Australia after World War I for returned service men with a vision impairment, blind cricket has continued to grow in popularity around the world with strong leagues in Europe, Asia and Australia. The equipment for blind cricket is essentially the same as for mainstream cricket with the ball and wickets being the only exception. The blind cricket ball is the same size as a regular cricket ball made out of hard plastic and filled with ball bearings in order to create a sound that is easily tracked by the vision impaired athletes. The wickets do not have bails as the batters are allowed to use the wickets to orientate and position themselves before play begins.
To ensure that the batter is prepared, the bowler must ask "Are you ready?" before starting their approach and then "play" before they bowl the ball. The ball must be bowled underarm and must bounce twice before it reaches the batter ensuring that the ball creates enough noise for the batter to track.
To play beyond social blind cricket, athletes must have a classification of either B1, B2 or B3 (see below for more information). However, Blind Cricket SA welcome all people with or without a vision impairment to come and take part in their sessions.
Classification information
To be able to compete in official blind cricket tournaments athletes must have a B1, B2, or B3 classification.
In South Australia it is possible to get a classification by booking time with the Royal Society for the Blind or Health2Go at Flinders University.
Below are the classifications set out by the International Blind Sports Association.
B1 Classification
No functional vision for sport, including those with no light perception, and those with light perception but unable to see hand shape from any distance.
B2 Classification
Visual field of less than 5% or visual acuity from hand movement to 2/60.
B3 Classification
Visual acuity ranging from 2/60 to 6/60 or visual field of 5% to 20%.
Blind cricket at SASSVI
SASVI has been lucky enough to work with SACA and Blind Cricket SA to encourage student involvement in this international blind sport. In 2020 SASSVI has even had one of South Australia's best blind cricketers and the 2021 SACA's Young Leader Of the Year, Lachlan Wallace, on staff at the school, supporting in class and in our physical education lessons and clubs. SASSVI runs an annual lunch time blind cricket club which has encouraged a number of students to attend the growing Blind Cricket SA's junior program held on Sundays at the Adelaide Oval practice pitches.
How can I be involved?
The blind cricket community in South Australia is very friendly and welcoming to all new athletes. If you would like to join and be involved please feel free to contact either the SA School for Vision Impaired or Blind Cricket SA for further information.
SA School and Services for Vision Impaired
If you would like more information on the blind cricket program at SASSVI or in South Australia please contact:
Andrew Whisson (PE Teacher at the SA School and Services for Vision Impaired)
Phone Number: +61882775255
Blind Cricket South Australia
If you would like more information on blind cricket in South Australia please contact:
Lachlan Wallace
Phone Number: +61479 109 781
Email: play@blindcricket.org
Visit: blindcricketsa.org
Blind Sports SA
If you would like more information on opportunities in Blind Sports in South Australia please contact:
Kent Dredge (Sports Development Officer)
Email: kent.dredge@blindsportssa.org.au
Visit: blindsportssa.org.au