England v Pakistan Blind cricket series

England and Pakistan will compete in the highly anticipated series between possibly the two most in-form international teams in blind cricket in August. England, fresh from comprehensive series victories against West Indies and Australia, host reigning World champions Pakistan in a three-match ODI series based in the West Midlands. They will also contest the first 20-20 blind international.

The first ODI takes place at Moseley CC in Solihull on Tuesday August 11 and the second will be hosted by King Edwards School in Edgbaston on Thursday August 13. The third game of the series will take place at Worcestershire's County Cricket Ground at New Road on Saturday August 15. In 2006 the two sides met twice at this venue winning one game apiece, the last game being a thrilling run-chase which England won thanks to another superb innings of 200 in the third O.D.I from their all-time leading run scorer Nathan Foy. Foy was recently voted ECB's inaugural England disabled cricketer of the year.

ECB's National Disability Cricket Manager, Ian Martin said "This is a keenly awaited series between two very strong teams. Whilst winning the Ashes in Australia was a fantastic achievement for England I think that the series against Pakistan will be a better measure of our progress as an international side."

Coach Jason Bowen added "This series will tell us a lot about our players as we are taking on reputably the best blind cricket team in the world. If we can play to our strengths in our own conditions there is no reason to fear their reputation. England has some of the best blind cricketers in the world and Pakistan will find it tough against us."

Entrance to all of the games is free of charge and all spectators are welcome with games starting at 11am and lasting for 40 overs per side.

The series will be followed by www.bcew.org.uk a web page you can also access through the ECB website. BCEW offer ball by ball commentary and interviews with the players and coaches' pre and post match. On the site there is also a live scoreboard which is a great way to check the score quickly.

Blind Cricket
The cricketers are categorised according to the level of their sight loss.
B1 - no sight up to the ability to see the difference between light and dark.
B2 - from the ability to be able to distinguish the shape of an object held in front of their face, up to, sight acuity of 2-60. This means that they can see at a range of only two meters, what a fully sighted person can see at 60 meters. Or, they have a field of vision of less than five degrees.
B3 - an acuity of 6-60. They can see at six meters what a fully sighted person can see at 60 meters. Or, a field of vision of less than 20 degrees.
A playing XI must have a minimum of four B1s and a maximum of four B3s. Any category can be replaced by a player of a lower category to make up the XI. There must be a B1, B2 and a B3 player in each cycle of three batsmen where possible.
The ball is made of moulded plastic with steel ball bearings inside to make it rattle. The ball must bounce at least once in each half of the wicket and must be delivered underarm.
A B1 player must have a runner and a B2 player has the option of having a runner if they wish. Each run scored by a B1 player counts as two.
The pitch is of a standard length and the stumps are painted yellow or orange to make them easier to see. Boundaries must be a minimum of 45 metres and a maximum of 55 metres.

England Disability squad:Matt Dean(captain)-Right handed batsman, right-arm medium bowler- Kent Andy Powers (vice captain)- Right handed batsman, slow right-arm-Staffordshire Gavin Dean- All-rounder- Kent Dan Field- Right hand middle order, wicket keeper-Sussex Nathan Foy- Left handed top order batsman, right arm leg-spin bowler- WalesJohn Garbett- Left-handed batsman, slow right arm bowler- SussexJoe Harrison- Right hand batsman, right-arm medium pace bowler- SussexMahomed Khatri- Right hand bat, right arm slow bowler- Leicestershire Jagdish Pata- Right handed batsman, right arm medium bowler- Leicestershire Dave Powers- Right handed lower order batsman- LeicestershireLuke Sugg- Right handed middle order bat, right arm medium-Worcestershire Heindrich Swanapoel- Left handed batsman, right arm bowler-KentMark Turnham- Right hand bat, slow right arm- WarwickshireRoy Turnham- Right-hand bat, right-arm slow bowler- Lancashire

For further information please contact:

Ian Martin, National Disability Cricket Manager, ECB - 07824 600325
Pete Sugg, Blind Cricket England & Wales 07921 309977