Berkshire Stags Vi Cricket Club

New players are always welcome from age 11, male or female. Only requirement is that you are eligible to be registered partially sighted

The aim of Berkshire Visually Impaired Cricket Club is to play cricket with visually impaired people in the Thames Valley area.

Blind Cricket has been played in England and Wales since the 1940's. The founding members of British Blind Sport (BBS) were cricketers. The sport offers camaraderie and a chance to compete on equal terms for blind and partially sighted people.

The main difference between standard Cricket and Blind Cricket is the ball. A size three football is used in UK Blind Cricket to help the partially sighted players to see it and it is filled with a quantity of ball bearings to allow the totally blind players to hear it. The MCC Laws of Cricket have also been adapted in other ways in an attempt to allow blind and partially sighted people to compete on equal terms. The major variations are as follows:

The wicket is larger, making it easier for the partially sighted players to see and easier for a Batsman or Bowler to touch for the purpose of orientatation.

The ball must pitch at least twice before the crease of a totally blind Batsman but must not be rolling.

The ball must pitch at least once before the crease of a partially sighted Batsman.
A totally blind Batsman is given one chance before being given out LBW and cannot be stumped.

The Bowler must ask the Batsman if he is ready before beginning his run up and shout "play" as he releases the ball.

A totally blind Fielder can make a catch after the ball has bounced once.

For more information email jeanette@berkshirevision. co. uk