Deaf cricket (UK) and it's chronology

 

Deaf cricket & the chronology of Deaf Cricket

Stefan Pichowski: former England Deaf player & England Cricket Association for the Deaf Chairman

Current Chairman of Deaf International Cricket Council

7th December 2021

 

  • Purpose of Deaf Cricket
  • Chronology of International Deaf Cricket
  • Domestic Deaf Cricket in England
  • Useful references

 

Purpose of Deaf Cricket

Deafness – A socially isolating disability                        

Deaf people need to be able to communicate effectively, access information and influence the world around them by any appropriate method whether through sign language, oral communication or a combination of approaches.

The challenges deaf people face playing cricket

Creating a positive environment for deaf people to play cricket is not about physical adaptations to the game but addressing the fact that deaf people face a range of communication challenges faced on and off the pitch. This often leads to deaf people feeling isolated and excluded missing out on the opportunity to participate in cricket.

Communication is the biggest barrier that has impact on deaf people when playing sport and within cricket this means that many deaf cricketers are often missing out on the opportunity to interact positively with coaches and players, which means that they are unable to develop and progress in the sport without significant challenges.

The level-playing field of all deaf cricketers on the field with a 55dB hearing loss on the better ear, removal of hearing aids on the field, and alike are all seemingly obvious equations to the question. There’s an article written by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (2020) that outlines the importance to keep Deaf sports and how important Deaf Sports are to them. The article goes on to outline the empowerment of Deaf people influenced by different kinds of sports organisations in the individual, group and society levels.

In light to celebrate and promoting Deaf Cricket, we draw a chronology of international Deaf Cricket and with England in mind.

Chronology of International Deaf Cricket (England in particular)

  • India vs Australia 1978
  • The inaugural Deaf Test series played in India vs Australia. 5 Test Series played at Bahadur Stadium (Hyderabad), Kotala Ground (New Delhi), Green Park (Kanpur), Keenan Stadium (Jamshedpur), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai).
  • The Test Series were fought closely and finished at 1 apiece.
  • Australian captain, John Webb, reported that the crowds were near full capacity for all the games.
  • Deaf Ashes 1992
  • Hosted by Australia in five states, 5 Tests: Australia 4 – 0 GB (British Deaf Sport Council)
  • Deaf Ashes 1994
  • Hosted by BDSC across the country - 5 Tests: GB 0 – 2 Australia
  • Deaf Cricket (ODI) World Cup 1995-6 (Victoria, Australia)
  • Hosted by Deaf Cricket Australia & Melbourne Deaf Cricket Club 
  • The famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) hosted the Australia vs Pakistan semi-final 
  • GB lost the World Cup Final to hosts, Australia, who chased a competitive total of 261 in front of a large national crowd. The scorecards were published on Ceefax
  • Deaf Ashes 2004
  • Hosted by Deaf Cricket Australia in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne (5 weeks)
  • 3 Tests; Australia 1 – 0 England Deaf (ECAD)
  • 5 ODIs; Australia 5 – 0 England Deaf (ECAD)
  • Deaf Cricket (ODI) World Cup 2005 (Lucknow, India)
  • England (ECAD) played their warm-up match at Green Park in Kanpur and 3 World Cup matches at Lucknow International Stadium
  • England (ECAD) beat Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh and lost to Australia, India and Pakistan in the group stages.
  • Semi-final vs Australia, England (ECAD) achieved their ever-international victory vs Australia with winning by 7 wickets
  • Final; England vs India, 8, 000 crowd at the Lucknow International Stadium against the host, broadcasted on national television. India win on their home soil with posting 218-9 off 50 overs and England could only reply with 132 on an unresponsive slow and low wicket
  • England vs Pakistan 2006
  • England Deaf (ECAD) vs Pakistan in Essex and Kent
  • One-off Test, draw
  • ODIs, 1-1
  • T20, England were winners of the one-off Trophy
  • Deaf Ashes 2008
  • Deaf Ashes in England and Wales
  • 2 Tests, England Deaf (ECB) 0 – 0 Australia at Southport and Colwyn Bay respectively
  • 4 ODIs, England Deaf (ECB) 2 – 2 Australia
  • 1 20/20 England Deaf (ECB) 0 – 1 Australia
  • Triangular series 2011
  • Hosted by Cricket Australia in Geelong, Australia
  • TeamsL Australia, England and South Africa
  • One off Deaf Ashes, Test drawn
  • ODI series between Australia, England Deaf (ECB) and South Africa: Australia beat England in the Final
  • T20 series between Australia, England Deaf (ECB) and South Africa: England beat Australia in the Final
  • South Africa vs England 2013
  • England Deaf (ECB) tour of South Africa 
  • ODIs, South Africa 0 – 4 England Deaf (ECB)
  • T20s, South Africa 0 – 2 England Deaf (ECB)
  • DICC Championship 2016 (Dubai Sports City and Sharjah International Stadium, UAE)
  • Hosted by ICC-Academy
  • Teams: England Deaf, India, Pakistan and South Africa 
  • England overcame Pakistan and India, the England vs South Africa fixture was match abandoned due to rare flooding in Dubai
  • Final at Sharjah International Stadium; England lost to Pakistan chasing down 225 with 10 balls to spare and by 3 wickets
  • Star Sports Deaf-ICC T20 World Cup 2018 (Gurugram, nr New Delhi, India)
  • Hosted by Deaf Cricket Society (India) 
  • India lost to Sri Lanka (Deaf Cricket Association) in the Final. SL 145/9, India 109a/o (17.5 overs)
  • Player of the Tournament: Gimadu L. Malkam (6 innings, 280 runs, strike rate: 139.30)
  • Digital partners including: CricHeroes and Star Sports
  • Cochlear Implant global ambassador and former Australian fast bowler, Brett Lee, attended to present the winning Trophy. Other special guests included Bishan Bedi and Harsha Bhogle.

As the Deaf International Cricket Council re-ignite Deaf Cricket in the aftermath of the covid pandemic reshaping the world with international / domestic border regulations along with vaccinations and bubbles, the DICC have been in regular dialogue with stakeholders including members of the organisation.

  • DICC T20 Champions Trophy 2022 Official invites sent out
  • DICC T20 World Cup 2023 (public tender to be released shortly)
  • DICC ODI World Cup 2025 (public tender to be released in due course)

The England Deaf team with the support of the strong ECB Disability Team will relish a new era of Deaf Cricket including bilateral series, the Deaf Ashes and they have an exciting future ahead of them with opportunities to lift World Cups and Trophies in front of the watchful eyes of the Deaf and cricket communities with the ever-increasing social media platforms.

Domestic deaf cricket in England: -

Deaf cricket previously had a rich history and culture with regular knockouts and league competitions throughout the decades when Deaf Clubs were thriving in all sports including cricket. At one point, according to a couple of current international players, there were over 20 Deaf Clubs competing in the cricket tournaments. The modern 21st century of technology and reduction in Deaf schools as pupils moved to mainstream schools have overseen such a drastic culture shift - the only Deaf clubs remaining in Luton, West London, Bradford, Bournemouth and Croydon has reluctantly and with great sadness draw the Deaf Cricket Club competition to a close in 2006 to 2007. West London Deaf Cricket Club are to celebrate their centenary year in due course with a re-match with Melbourne Deaf Cricket Club.

Since then, England Cricket Association for the Deaf, had to rebuild with a regional structure and have successfully recruited and attracted over 300 players, some of which, continued the pathway to the national England Deaf team managed by the ECB. 

Contacts: -

* England Cricket Association for Deaf: https://www.englanddeafcricket.co.uk/

* Deaf International Cricket Council Secretary: Mr. Michael Lombard e – michael.lombard@newbridge.co.za

Useful References:

Yours in sport 

Mr. Stefan Pichowski

DICC Chairman | Chairman Office: - Kent, UK | Telegram & Signal: - +447967174391 I LinkedIn: - Stefan Pichowski I Twitter: - @stefanpichowski I Google Meet & TEAMS available upon request | 

_________________________________________________________    

Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed 

DICC Vice-Chairman | CEO Office: - Lahore, Pakistan |

_________________________________________________________  

Mr. Michael Lombard 

DICC Secretary | Secretary Office: - P.O. Box 294, Cape Gate, Western Cape, South Africa 7562 | Mobile: - +27798844451 (SMS) | e: - michael.lombard@newbridge.co.za | 

_________________________________________________________  

Mr. Sumit Jain 

DICC Treasurer | Treasurer Office: - New Delhi, India |

_________________________________________________________  

Mr. Zadin-urddin Babar

DICC CEO | CEO Office: - Lahore, Pakistan | Mobile: - +923227008009 (WhatsApp/Telegram/SMS/Voice) | e: - ceodicc@gmail.com |

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Telegram: - DICC (Deaf International Cricket Council)
Facebook: - Deaf-ICC
W: – www.deaficc.com