22nd February, 2022
With just a handful of games left, this has been a year like no other for 13cabs sponsored cricketers, who’ve overcome disruptions to bring together another sensational blind cricket season.
13cabs’ role in the community is to provide essential transport to Australians with disability.
Victorian Blind Cricket Association community engagement officer, Travis Zimmer said awareness of disability sports has grown tenfold this year, thanks in part to press generated by Australian of the year and wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott.
“Traditionally it’s been quite hard to raise awareness for disability sports, however we have found there is more interest now than there ever has been”, Mr Zimmer said.
“We’re very grateful for 13cabs being there to support blind cricket and help those with a disability to live independently.”
Mr Zimmer said disability sports people take what they do very seriously.
“I’m training every day, lifting weights, cycling, running to keep fit and injury free,” he said.
Mitchell Powell, 13, from Bentleigh Cricket Club, who is not vision impaired, said his perceptions of blind cricket were changed instantly when he played his first game.
“I first saw blind cricket on YouTube and my mum asked if I wanted to play in a match for Bentleigh,” he said.
“I was fascinated by the level of skill. I couldn’t believe that they were hitting boundaries and sweeping the ball. It was amazing how well they played.”
Blind cricket is played just like ordinary cricket. An audible ball raddles down the pitch to a batsman who sweeps the ball along the pitch to the field.
Fielders listen to the sound of the ball to get their opponents out.
Typically, fielders can run up to 12km in a game.
The Victorian season for blind cricket winds up in April, go to https://www.vbca.org.au/ for all the latest details.
