VISACT BLIND CRICKET TEAM
TAVERNERS v VISACT
On Sunday 21 February 2010 the Taverners Cricket team, a somewhat motley group of gentlemen from the Molonglo and ANU senior cricket teams as well as several Taverners cricketers, all of whom had seen better days, responded to the challenge to defend the VISACT Trophy at Kippax Oval.
VISACT batted first on an excellent wicket and on a pleasant day the Taverners team ably led by veteran skipper Peter Wren, started optimistically. However as our players had to wear impairment goggles and one player a pair of totally dark glasses it soon became apparent that we were in for a testing experience. The fact that out of 194 runs scored by VISACT over 100 came in wides and no balls testified to inexperience if not difficulty!
Taverners responded quite well with the bat - Wal Hall,Peter Wren and Martin Stafford Bell all making useful contributions, but VISACT were much more economical with the sundry count and won the match and the trophy convincingly. All our players appreciated the experience and the courage and skill of those with visual impairment who played so well against us. Your correspondent faced three balls batting with totally dark glasses, not making contact with any and being bowled off his toe!
VISACT were generous hosts providing an excellent BBQ and sorrow drowning libations for the Taverners . Peter Wren with some reluctance handed over the VISACT trophy to the captain of the better side, Stephen Fagg.
ONGOING SUPPORT
For some years we have been supporting the VISACT blind cricketers, and our support assists their members with specialised equipment and costs associated with competing. We give the Blind Cricketers $5,000 annually towards their expenses for uniforms, gear and matches. They are very appreciative of the support and commissioned a trophy to be presented to the winner of our annual cricket match.
We continue to admire them greatly for their courage and ability and they have helped us in turn, not at the least by getting their team together for manning the bucket brigade at the PM’s XI Match.
Matches against the Blind Cricketers are real “eye-openers” for those not similarly impaired. Wearing their goggles gives us an idea of the difficulties that they have with sport, especially as our hearing is not as acute as theirs. Difficulties aside, the matches are terrific fun and played with the right spirit, and I would urge Taverners of all ages to come and play, as it is a very pleasant experience.