Frequently Asked Questions On Blind Cricket

It would be hard for the author of this home page to give a full description of the game without getting into the technicalities and jargon. For this reason, he has compiled here the following document which has been based on frequently asked questions put to him by the public on blind cricket. As new questions are asked, they will be added along with their answers. Please feel free to ask questions of your own by emailing:
John Kochman

Q: Who Can Play Blind Cricket?


a:

People who are totally blind or partially sighted (legally blind) can play the game.

Q: How Many Players In A Team?


A:

For domestic competition this can vary from state to state. However, for national and international games, the team usually comprises eleven players which break down to four totally blind players and seven partially sighted players.

Q: What Equipment Is Used?


A:

We use conventional cricket bat. The wickets are of conventional dimensions but are made of aluminium or otherwise metal materials. The pitch we play on is concrete and 22 yards in length. The boundaries are 30 to 40 yards. Our blind cricket ball is made of nylon tubing woven around a wire mould and contains lead pieces to give it weight and bottle tops for sound. It is slightly larger than the ball used in the sighted version of the game. Accessories such as cricket pads and gloves are optional and the same as those used by our sighted counterparts.

Q: How Long Does A Blind Cricket Game Usually Last?


A:

Again this varies from state to state for domestic competition games. Matches can be played over one or two days but their duration is typically of 90 to 100 or so overs.

Q: How Is The Game Played?


A:

All bowling and fielding must be performed under-arm. Methods of dismissal parallel the sighted game with the exception of catching, though this may change in future. Unlike the conventional game however, there are currently no sundries other than deliveries classified as "no balls" or "wides". For a delivery to be judged legal, the ball must touch both halves of the pitch before reaching the batting crease.

Q: How Many Runs Can Be Made?


A:

In domestic competition, again this can vary. However for most participating states it would be true to say that players can face a maximum of 8 overs or 40 runs, whichever is reached first. Totally blind players, on the other hand, can face a maximum of 16 overs for an unlimited number of runs.

Q: Do All Players Have To Bat And Bowl?


A:

There is no restriction on bowling provided that the bowler is bowling to a batsman of higher or equal sight classification. However a captain must bat all their totally blind players before they can declare their first innings closed.

Q: Are Totally Blind Players Required To Run For Themselves When Batting?


A:

No, they are required to have a runner as it is felt that it would be unsafe for not only the blind player but also for his fellow fielders. The running is usually done by a partially sighted team-mate of the blind player.

 

If you have any comments or you want to make a contribution to this FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), feel free to email:
John Kochman
or you can
return to our front page.

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This page was last modified on Monday, 14 July 1997.