Blind at the bat, they still hear the sound of cricket

If they cannot see, how do they know where the ball is?

This is what Eddie Jacobs asked yesterday as he looked out on one of the cricket pitches where the matches for the Blind Cricket World Cup will be played.

Jacobs, the "groundsman", is used to preparing cricket pitches, but blind cricket is puzzling to him too. He is responsible for maintenance at the venue and was yesterday building a ramp to assist disabled people who will be attending the tournament, which starts at the Western Province Cricket Club today.

Special considerations needed to be made for the tournament venue and adjustments were made to the pitches to meet requirements for hosting blind cricket.

Grass was cut to a length that allows the ball to roll better, boundaries were shortened and even the dogs in the neighbouring park are monitored to keep their barking at a minimum.

According to Blind Cricket SA National Co-ordinator Armand Bam, blind cricket is played with an audible cricket ball that has ball bearings in it to allow the players to hear it. Bowlers yell "play!" before bowling and roll the ball along the ground as opposed to bowling overhead.

South Africa were winners of the inaugural World Cup in 1998, and seven countries are taking part in this year's 40-over tournament over the next 10 days.

Teams consist of 11 players - four of whom are totally blind and seven a mix of partially blind and partially sighted. Totally blind players are awarded double points for runs scored.