After having the rug pulled from under them four years ago the New Zealand deaf cricket team heads to India today for the World Cup.
Excitement levels are obvious, six Wellington players turned up for an interview this week when only one was anticipated.
Put it down to technology. The innovation of text messaging has transformed their lives. Years ago if deaf players did not have a fax machine at home they were out of the loop unless their captain was prepared to jump in the car.
All six was born deaf, though opening bowler Theodor Waterhouse’s parents only discovered his deficiency when he was nearly five.
Opening batsman Tony Brown, whose youngest brother Jamie is also deaf, just sneaks into the side. A loss of 55 decibels is the qualification mark. Brown’s level is 56.
“At the last World Cup [Melbourne 1996] there was no mark and there were complaints that some players were too much of hearing,” Brown, who plays for Wainuimata’s 2A team, said.
There was no such problems in Johannesburg in 2000 because to the deaf community’s horror the World Cup was canned 10 days before the opening ceremony.
Brown explains there are some on-field obstacles, but none of them insurmountable. Running between wickets may resemble a traffic cop on points duty but he claims there are no more run outs than a normal game.
“The biggest problem is when someone turns their back on the captain during fielding,” he said.
“If someone wanders to the boundary when he’s supposed to be up in the ring then you have to wait for ages until they get to where they believe they should be and turn around. You’ve got to watch the captain.”
“Going for a high catch can also be tricky at times but there is a signal [he performs the wide signal] to warn other fieldsmen off.”
One might suspect the game is played in silence but Brown said they appeal for everything.
“Most of us walk when we hit it, but it’s hearing umpires any way.
“When the ball beats the bat we tend to jump up because we presume it might have got the edge.”
When players perform extraordinary feats they leave the field to applause of a different kind. Vice-captain Bobbie Mowat, who can read lips, said the players stand in a line and put their hands in the air to acknowledge outstanding performances.
It is hard to get a line on the quality of the 16-man squad. Stefan Hall, a senior cricketer for Greytown in the Wairarapa, is the side’s captain.
Clive Morgan, a father of three, has the build of an opening bowler but opens the batting. He has also represented New Zealand in basketball at the deaf Olympics.
The athletic-looking Waterhouse and deaf cricket pioneer Jamie Kuklinski have played for the national deaf rugby team, while John Bennett rates himself as a handy indoor netball player.
Brown’s worry is their schedule, eight days straight in the fierce heat of Lucknow then the bye.
New Zealand will wear black coloured clothing with their names on their back.
“Australia and England play each other every two years in the deaf Ashes with five tests and five one-dayers.
“We haven’t played much but we are looking to win four games and we’ll see how we go against the likes of Australia, England, Pakistan and India.”
Each player has raised $600 to make the trip.
Photo caption – Cup contenders: Members of the New Zealand deaf cricket team, from left, Clive Morgan, Jamie Kuklinski, Theodor Waterhouse, John Bennett, Bobbie Mowat and Tony Brown. The team heads to India today for the World Cup.
