Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding was so impressed by a visit from Tim Gutteridge of the England Blind Cricket Team that he has made an appeal to all blind cricketers in the county to come forward to form a Somerset team.

Tim's visit to the County Ground was to make arrangements for the England team to spend time at the Centre of Excellence in September prior to them taking part in the ICC Blind World Cup later in the autumn.

After the blind players visit Andrew told me: "Whilst he was here Tim gave a demonstration. The blind team play the game with a plastic ball with ball bearings in it, so that they can hear the ball as it approaches. I was really impressed when I saw him smacking it about the place. Tim is classified as a B1 blind person which means that he is totally blind, so that his demonstration was even more impressive."

The Cricket Development Officer concluded: "We've tried to get a blind team going before, but it didn't get off the ground. Now I've got the idea that if we invite all blind cricketers along to the Centre of Excellence on September 13th and 14th when the England team are here we will hopefully get enough interest to form a Somerset team."

Anyone who is classified as a blind person in categories B1 to B4 who is interested in finding out more about forming a Somerset Blind Cricket Team should contact Andrew Moulding on 01823 352266.

© SOMERSET