New Zealand’s BLINDCAPS are working hard behind the scenes in preparation for two international events this calendar year.
Later this month, the squad travels to South Africa for a One-Day series (19 – 29 Feb) before the Twenty20 Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan (20 Nov – 05 Dec) later in the year.
Blind Cricket was established in New Zealand in the 1980’s when a touring team from Australia visited to promote the game.
Since that time, New Zealand have competed in two One-Day World Cups (1998 and 2007) and one Twenty20 World Cup (2017).
New Zealand will hold a trump card at this year’s World Cup – namely, James Dunn.
Dunn is remarkably a triple-international for New Zealand - having captained the BLINDCAPS for close to 20 years, captained the NZ Blind Rugby team and was also a World Champion in his sight category for World Blind Bowls.
James Dunn in action for the BLINDCAPS
Aside from the competition, the World Cup offers an opportunity to inspire the VI (visually impaired) community in New Zealand, explained Dunn.
“The squad are looking forward to competing against some tough opposition and building this squad towards the World Cup,” said Dunn.
“We hope to show all other VI/Blind members in NZ that anything is possible and there are opportunities to wear the fern even with a disability.”
The squad are seeking donations to make their World Cup dreams come true.
Donate to their GiveaLittle page using the link below - money raised will go towards the cost of the two tours and monthly training camps.
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-nz-blindcaps-players-visualise-their-sporting
BLINDCAPS Squad:
B3’s
- DUNN, Deacan – Ashburton, MSBSC
- FLOWERDAY, Mark – Christchurch, CBSC
- McCASKILL, Marquele – Auckland, MSBSC
- van NOORDWYK, Donovan - Waikato
B2’s
- CRUICKSHANK, Jody – Invercargill, CBSC
- DUNN, James – Auckland, MSBSC
- McCASKILL, Donna – Ashburton, MSBSC
- Schwenke, Jack – Auckland, MSBSC
B1’s
- EDGAR, Ming Ming – Whangarei, MSBSC
- PEARSE, Tamati – Auckland, MSBSC
- WELLS, Dennis – Blenheim, CBSC
- WILLIAMSON, Gary – Auckland, MSBSC
Understanding Blind Cricket:
The team is made up of three “sight categories” which each represent the varying degrees of blindness.
A B1 player is totally blind, they will wear blacked out glasses to ensure they have no light perception.
B2 players are partially sighted - this means they are more blind then sighted - they are likely to have tunnel vision which is 5degrees or less (almost a pinhole) or what a sighted person can see at 60 meters, they would need to be 6 meters away from.
B3 has greater vision, they may have 20 degrees of field vision (like looking through a toilet roll) or what you see at 48 meters, they might need to be 6 meters away from.
In Blind Cricket, the stumps are made of metal so it’s easier to hear when they’ve been hit, and the ball is bowled underarm. B1 players have someone running for them and get a call from the keeper.
Blind Cricket is played around the world by 10 cricket nations (Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies).
Want to get involved? Contact Donna McCaskill at boardchair@NzbcaInc.co.nz.
Follow the BLINDCAPS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLINDCAPS.
