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From Sydney to Edgbaston: Jennifer’s Blind Cricket journey.
When Jennifer first started playing Blind Cricket, she had no idea of how far it would take her. In 2021, after the long stretch of pandemic lockdowns, Jennifer was looking for a way to reconnect with her community. That’s when she discovered Blind Cricket NSW.
Nervous but determined, Jennifer attended a game, joined the club, and quickly fell in love with the sport. Since then, she’s embraced every role on the field—batting, bowling, and fielding—despite the unique challenges that come with the game.
Living in Sydney’s southern suburbs near Hurstville, Jennifer is a passionate advocate for what’s possible for people with low vision or blindness. Blind cricket is played under modified rules to make it accessible for people with varying levels of vision. The ball contains ball bearings to help players locate it by sound, and bowling is done underarm. Fielding can be tricky, especially when the ball stops rolling, but that hasn’t stopped Jennifer from giving it her all.
When she first joined, Jennifer was the only woman who showed up that day at the Blind Cricket NSW Club. Today, there are ten women, and the national championships now include a full week of competition with women from all around the country participating. It’s a sign of how far the sport has come—and how far it can still go.
In 2023, Jennifer represented Australia at the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) Games in Birmingham, UK. Australia took a contingent of around 90 people to take part in six different sports. Jennifer got to don the Australian uniform and march in the opening ceremony. Playing in the Blind Cricket final at Edgbaston, one of the world’s leading cricket grounds, was a “surreal honour and a privilege” for Jennifer, and her team won a Silver medal.
“The other highlight was actually receiving a baggy green cap. There’s nothing that tops that!” she said.
Playing cricket has taught Jennifer mental strength, resilience and how to work as part of a team. But she admits, “These things don’t happen without a lot of people helping you, like coaches, support staff and umpires.”
Jennifer’s next big match will be as part of the Australian Women’s Squad for the upcoming Achieve Australia: Australia vs Pakistan International Women’s Blind Cricket Series. Starting on 20 April in Brisbane and captained by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Ambassador Courtney Webeck, this will be the first-ever international blind cricket game on Australian soil. Jennifer will once again represent her country, playing the sport she loves.
For anyone thinking about giving cricket, or any sport, a try, Jennifer says, “The hardest step is actually turning up, because if you don’t turn up, you miss out on what could be… Turn up and see what it’s about, and then you can decide whether it’s for you. There’s nothing to lose by doing that.”
Jennifer has been a Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Client since she was nine. From using a cane to trialling AI tools like Bindi Maps, the support has been life changing. Cricket isn’t Jennifer’s only passion. A talented singer, songwriter, flautist and pianist, she’s also working on releasing an EP and hopes to do some busking soon.
Jennifer says, “I think life’s just a canvas you paint yourself, and it’s up to you what you do.”
