The Australian women’s blind cricket team makes its historic debut at the World Games in England… and the Aussies celebrate the occasion in style with a seven-wicket win over the Poms

The Australian women’s blind cricket team made their International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games debut in style when they defeated England by seven wickets in the tournament opener on Saturday.

The tournament marks the first time Australia has sent a blind women’s cricket team onto the world stage.

England and India are the only two other teams to compete in blind cricket at the World Games in Birmingham, as the sport made its debut there.

Until recently, there was no blind cricket team in Australia, meaning blind and partially sighted women could only play cricket at elite level by playing against men.

Blind Cricket Australia has since established a women’s team coached by Taylah Purton and captained by Julie Newman.

Australia has sent its first women’s blind cricket team to the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games in Birmingham

“It’s hugely important to them that they can play the sport that they love and that I can help them. I love it,” Purton told the ABC.

“If we could get the women’s program up to par with the men’s in the next five to 10 years, that would be absolutely amazing.”

While blind cricket is broadly very similar to its traditional counterpart, some aspects of the game differ significantly.

The ball features ball bearings to help players keep track and is always thrown under the arm.

Players are divided into three categories based on their level of visual impairment – ​​B1, B2 and B3. Each starting eleven must consist of four B1 players (who are completely blind) and a maximum of four B3 players.

Courtney Webeck only started cricket in November last year but has already been named Australia’s vice-captain and believes the World Games is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the sport.

“It would be great to bring in new people,” she said.

Rich Moxly, chairman of Blind Cricket Australia, echoed this sentiment and hailed the women’s team’s ability to compete on the world stage as a significant milestone.

“Ultimately, for sport to be a sport for all and to be properly integrated, there should be no boundary between the support offered to one group versus another group,” he said.

The Aussies defeated England by seven wickets in their opening game last week

Cricket Australia, Vision Australia, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of visually impaired children and young people, and the charity Taverners all help fund Blind Cricket Australia.

After beating England on Saturday, Australia lost to India by eight wickets the following day and to England by twelve runs on Tuesday.

The teams will play each other twice, with the top two going into the grand final on August 26th.

The men’s side, meanwhile, lost their opening game by six wickets to England on Sunday and by eight wickets to India the following day.