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Blind cricket: Dealing with a 60 mph delivery you cannot see

Mark Lawford
Matt Page was talking toYahoo Sport at the launch of NatWest’s ‘Cricket has no boundaries’ campaign
Matt Page was talking toYahoo Sport at the launch of NatWest’s ‘Cricket has no boundaries’ campaign

England blind and partially sighted cricketer Matt Page has revealed just how hard to it is to face bowling of 60 miles an hour when you cannot see it.

Speaking at the launch of NatWest’s ‘Cricket has no boundaries’ campaign, Page told Yahoo Sport about his “incredible” World Cup experience when England lost to Pakistan in the semi-finals.

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But the Hampshire player insists it could very well be next time lucky for the team as “big changes” have been made since then.

Page explained: “The format of the team is seven partially sighted and four blind players – I am partially sighted my condition affects my central vision so I pick the ball up from three quarters of the way down.

“At the top level a key part is communication especially from the wicketkeeper. And when the bowler, bowling underarm, sends the ball down at around 60 miles an hour, you need that communication.”

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For the most part the ball stays on the ground but Page added: “There are LBWs – when batting if you are down to sweep the gloves are there as added protection but at my level the ball pops up so you can be out LBW.”

Rattle

In Page’s format of the sport a hollow – yet hard – ball has a rattle in it so it is played almost exclusively through hearing.

“I was 16 years of age and on the off chance got an email from Hampshire about an open day. The team were there that day, I liked what I saw and since then I have been involved.

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“Playing in front of crowds of 20,000 in India during the World Cup was amazing and since losing the changes we have made to the set up have been good and things look very promising.”

Matt Page was speaking during the launch of NatWest’s ‘Cricket has no boundaries’ campaign which celebrates the sport’s inclusivity. NatWest is the new Principal Partner of England Cricket having supported the game since 1981. Find out more at natwest.com/cricket #NoBoundaries