Academy rewards in Hampshire

1 December 2008

England's Blind cricket team officially launched The Hampshire Visually Impaired Cricket Academy at the Rose Bowl on Saturday November 22.

The England team were on the South Coast as part of a training event to prepare for their upcoming tour to Australia where they hope to retain the Blind Ashes.

The players delivered a specialist coaching session for members of the Hampshire VI Cricket Club.

Over the winter the academy participants will have the full use of the Rose Bowl’s indoor school and access to monthly development sessions delivered by a dedicated team of qualified coaches.

England Blind Team captain Matt Dean talks tactics down at the Rose Bowl during the launch of the new academy

The academy is the first of its kind in this country and aims to introduce people with visual impairments to cricket and enable them to reach their full potential in order to create senior and junior sides who will each be playing in a variety of friendly, league and cup matches next summer.

The academy has been set up and is run by Hampshire VI Cricket Club in partnership with Hampshire Cricket Board and British Blind Sport.

HCB disability cricket development officer Greig Stewart said the launch was a huge success.

“The launch event has provided a great springboard from which we can continue to develop opportunities within cricket for people with visual impairments," he said.

"This was a unique opportunity for our members to meet and be coached by the England players who have achieved so much within the sport.”

Hampshire VI Cricket Club are always looking for new members and their next training session is on December 20 at the Rose Bowl. If you are interested in being part of this exciting new initiative please contact Greig Stewart on 07920 452537 or email greig.stewart@rosebowlplc.com.