THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shehin has never seen Bhaji bamboozling the batsman with his tricky ‘doosra’ or Sreesanth ferociously growling on the ground during a match. All he is familiar with is the tinkling white cricket ball in his right hand which he bowls towards Rafsal, the batsman. Shehin’s bowling prowess, Rafsal’s stunning willow strokes and the deft fielding of Aby and Sreenath are happening in a world deprived of vision. As another World Sight Day falls on Thursday, the upper primary students of the Government School for the Visually Impaired in Vazhuthacaud are on cloud nine as the Kerala Cricket Association has gifted them a cricket kit containing all equipment enabling them to play the popular game. The school,for the past one month, has been coaching students to play cricket using custom made cricket accessories to suit the needs of these little cricket aspirants. “Some three years ago we started providing cricket coaching regularly for interested students of the school. We had a nice team eleven which competed in various competitions. When many team members passed out of the school in course of time and the post of a physical training teacher was left void, the glorious cricketing days slowly faded into oblivion. With the availability of this kit, the good old days of cricketing have come once again,” said Reghunathan Nair K R, Headmaster of the school. The kit contains all accessories necessary for playing a match including 25 balls, three bats, visors, knee pads and so on. In this kit, the balls are specially designed for the visually impaired. Hollow cricket balls made of plastic contains tiny tinkling globes inside so that the batsman can hit the ball by listening to the sound created by its movement. Unlike the conventional way, here the ball is rolled on the ground. One who fields too identifies the movement of the ball in this manner. The stump, though it is not part of the new kit, is made of iron rods which can be fixed on the ground. They have permanently fixed bails which look like a bridge between each stump. “At present, five students are being trained to play cricket. Many have shown interest to play and the team eleven will be a reality in near future,” said Reghunathan Nair. Students are imparted training in the evenings when they do not have any other special coaching such as music, computer or braille. Teachers and former students are training the students as the vacancy of the PT teacher is not yet filled. For a team of eleven, players are categorised into three- four members from B1 category, comprising totally blind, three from B2 category of partially blind and B3 category of four who can almost see. Cricketing rules too are made slightly flexible to suit them, explains Abdul Samad, who trains the students. “If a B1 member makes a run, be it single, four or six, it will be doubled. Batsmen of B1 category are provided with aides to run between the wickets on crease. The batsman will be declared out once the ball hits the iron stump”. The rules go on and on in this way. Shehin’s words reveal that they are all set to lift the cup in a tournament anytime. “We will practice well and show the mettle even if we have to appear for a tournament tomorrow,” he said confidently.
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