From first toss until stumps, everyone can be out on the field this Ashes season thanks to the inclusive design of the audible cricket ball.
Created specifically for people who are blind or have low vision, the white cricket ball, made from strong hard plastic, allows players to hear where the ball is located through the loud ball bearings.
The cricket ball is available through the Vision Australia store and complements its range of rugby, soccer, tennis and recently arrived Sherrin AFL football audible balls.
The audible cricked ball has celebrated a century of inclusive playing, being first designed in 1922 with wicker and using small bells for sound.
Life changing sport for blind cricketer
Blind cricketer, and Vision Australia’s Commercial Services General Manager Michael Linke, grew up playing backyard cricket with his three brothers. Without an audible cricket ball though, it took his father’s ingenuity to make the game more inclusive for him.
“Dad painted the ball white (well before Kerry Packer introduced one day games) and the backyard fence black to create contrast.”
When Michael turned sixteen, he graduated from the backyard to join a blind cricket team, a move he describes as ‘life changing”.
“Up until then, I didn’t know anyone who was blind or had low vision and I didn’t have a lot of friends. Once I started playing blind cricket I got a whole stack of friends. People I’ve now known for 40 years. It allowed me to develop my social, decision making, team and leadership skills. Sport really is a wonderful way of getting involved in society,” Michael said.
“The audible ball makes it possible for blind cricket to apply the rules of standard cricket. It’s important the closer we are to the traditional game, the more inclusive the sport is.”
Get your kids to play
Michael believes the advantages of letting children who are blind or have low vision to get outdoors and get active outweighs any fears parents might have.
“The more opportunity there is for young people who are blind or have low vision to get involved the greater the impact it will be long term: socially, in education and in employment.”
“The audible ball we sell is the current international standard ball, so any kid who wants to get into cricket should grab one of these to start to learn. I played with that ball in the World Cup and scored a century and absolutely love it," Michael said.
The Vision Australia Vision Store
The Vision Australia Vision Store is dedicated to providing the best possible experience for our customers in our retail locations, online and via the phone.
Our team consists of experienced and knowledgeable people who are passionate about helping customers find the products they need and answering any questions they may have. We take pride in our expertise on the products we carry and work hard to stay up to date on the latest industry trends and technologies, helping our customers to live the life they choose.
A century of blind cricket
Blind cricket was invented here in Australia in 1922 by two blind factory workers using sticks and a tin can.
Returned First World War soldiers who had lost their vision were still relatively able bodied and developed the sport to keep themselves engaged. The original ball was wicker, then in the 1960s Nylon was used before the plastic one we see now.