BBC SPORT | Cricket | England ready for blind World Cup



By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

England's Test team have done well to get used to the extreme heat and spin-friendly conditions of the Asian sub-continent in the last few years.

But their performances could have been completely different had they been forced to adapt to different rules and a smaller ball.

That is exactly what England's blind cricketers will have to deal with next month when they compete for the 2002 World Cup in Madras, India.

At home, they use a football, filled with ball-bearings so that batsmen can hear it coming, but the international game uses a ball of traditional size, bowled under-arm.

A bowler in domestic cricket (photo: Gerald McLean)
English domestic cricket uses a football
England struggled to adjust to the new regulations during the inaugural World Cup, also held in India in 1998, winning just two matches out of six.

But greater experience at international level means confidence is higher second time around.

"We've been playing internationally since the late 1990s and we're getting better and better," says Timothy Guttridge, an all-rounder who is also international secretary of the British governing body.

"The main difference is that in England with a larger ball you can play all of the shots that a fully sighted cricketer could.

"With a smaller ball you are restricted on shot - there are a lot of variations on the sweep as the ball usually comes along the ground."

International experience

The England side leave for India at the end of the month, and play a warm-up match against an Indian club side before opening their World Cup campaign against Australia on 5 December.

The sides are already well-acquainted after playing a triangular series with New Zealand Down Under last year.

This is probably the best England side we've had

Timothy Guttridge

And Guttridge believes this is the strongest side to have left English shores, thanks to regular training time together, culminating in last weekend's camp at Trent Bridge.

This summer saw a four-match series against Pakistan, which the tourists won 3-1 despite an exciting finale.

The side's increased competitiveness is down in part, Guttridge says to the increased backing of first-class counties.

Sussex have led the way, this year launching their own visually impaired side, which competes in the 11-team national league.

Sport Academy: Cricket for the disabled

Sussex Sharks contribute two players to the 17-man squad, and there is further representation from Hove in former county captain John Barclay, who will act as tour manager.

"He has had lots to tell us, especially about India, which is one of his favourite places," says Guttridge.

John Barclay during his tiem as England tour manager in Pakistan, 1996
Tour manager Barclay has vast experience in Asia
"He has managed England Test teams there and he's very excited about taking a blind side."

Everything points to an exciting contest, too, as South Africa look to defend their title.

All-rounder Adam Benjamin is England captain, while Mark Pickup and South African-born Heinrich Swanepoel are two others Guttridge expects to figure highly on scorecards.

Each team is required to field four completely blind players and another all-rounder, Nathan Foy, is one of the stars amongst that group.

"From what we know about the other sides it's going to be very tight," says Guttridge.

"My first goal is to reach the semi-finals and we'll take it from there."


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