Australia women’s blind cricket team makes historic debut at the World Games in England…and the Aussies mark the occasion in style with seven-wickets thrashing of the Poms

Australia’s women’s blind cricket team made their International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games debut in style on Saturday as they beat England by seven wickets in their tournament opener.

The tournament marks the first time Australia has sent a blind women’s cricket team to compete on 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 at the event.

Until recently, Australia did not have a blind cricket team, meaning blind and partially sighted women could only play elite level cricket by competing against men.

Blind Cricket Australia has since launched a women’s team, which is coached by Taylah Purton and captained by Julie Newman.

“That they can play the sport they love and that I can help them is huge. I love it,” Purton told ABC.

“If we can get the women’s program in a place similar to where the men are now 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 greatly.

The ball contains ball bearings for easier tracking by players and is always bowled under the arm.

Players are divided into three categories – B1, B2 and B3 – depending on their degree of visual impairment. Each starting XI must contain four B1 players – who are completely blind – and a maximum of four B3 players.

Courtney Webeck only took up cricket last November but has already been named Australia’s vice-captain and believes the World Games are a great opportunity to raise awareness for the sport.

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

Blind Cricket Australia chairman Rich Moxly echoed the sentiment, calling it a major milestone for the women’s team to compete on the world stage.

“If sport is to be a sport for all and to be well integrated, ultimately there should be no distinction between the support provided to one group and the other,” he said.

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

Cricket Australia, Vision Australia, a non-profit organization that aids the development of visually impaired children and young people, and Taverners charities all contribute to the funding of Blind Cricket Australia.

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

The teams will play each other twice, with the two sitting at the top of the table and playing the grand final on August 26.

The men’s team, meanwhile, lost its opening match by six wickets to England on Sunday and lost by eight wickets to India the next day.