Dave Gavrilovic reports on the resumption of blind cricket, which didn’t take a place at all in 2020.
After a 20-month enforced break, blind cricket finally restarted in late May with plenty of excitement and relief in evidence.
In the BCEW National League Division One, defending champions Northants Steelbacks continued where they had left off in 2019 with a convincing 87-run win away to Lancashire Lions.
The other Division One clash saw Somerset VICC hold out for a draw away to London Metro. Metro declared at the halfway stage on 227 for 3 as England’s Matt Dean thrashed 159 not out.
On the first weekend in June, three of the four quarter finals of the BBS Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup took place. Another Matt Dean century helped London Metro to victory over Somerset (for whom Rob Crisp also
scored 114) in a repeat of the 2019 final. Northants, Sussex Sharks and Lancashire Lions also progressed.
At the time of writing, only eight teams had started their competitive matches again but a dozen more will be involved throughout the summer and almost all have now started training again, as have the England Men’s and UK Women’s teams.
While the competitive nature of the cricket remains as strong as ever, observing how pleased everyone is to be back playing, seeing friends from their own team and their opponents, is as pleasing as anything this season.