Live commentaries for blind & partially sighted fans

Date released: 12 April 2007

The first match of the domestic cricket season gets under way on Friday 13th April at Lord’s when MCC will take on the Champion County, Sussex. For the first full season ever, blind and partially sighted cricket fans will be able to enjoy the action in the Ground, during every single match, by listening to live commentary on specially provided headsets.

To meet the Ball by Ball team click here

The live commentary forms part of the Ball by Ball initiative developed between MCC and the Royal National Institute of the Blind to encourage visually impaired spectators to visit the ‘home of cricket’. Launched on a trial basis in mid-2006, the initiative was praised by Minister for Sport, Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, and quickly established itself as a much-used and valuable asset to countless cricket fans. 2007 will be the first full season of the Ball by Ball scheme.

The commentaries will be provided by BBC Test Match Special on major matchdays, BBC London on Middlesex matchdays, and a twenty-strong MCC team of BBC-trained volunteer commentators during every other fixture at Lord's in 2007. In total, every single one of the 63 match days at Lord’s will be commentated on in the Ground for the benefit of spectators with sight problems – a first for English cricket.

MCC’s Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, said:

“We’re delighted to be able to provide these live commentaries for the season ahead, and very grateful to our team of volunteer commentators who do such a magnificent job in bringing the action to life for our spectators at Lord’s. I would encourage any sport-lover with a visual impairment to come to Lord’s during the season and try out our service.”

Eleanor Ellison, National Sport & Leisure Manager, RNIB, said:
“We are very pleased that MCC continues to lead the way in making cricket more accessible for blind and partially sighted fans. The whole team at Lord’s – from the stewards to the commentators – does a great job in making a day at the cricket a memorable experience. We hope that other clubs follow their lead.”

Ben Pheazey, one of the volunteer commentators, said:

“It is a great pleasure to commentate at Lord’s for the MCC and RNIB ball by ball initiative. Getting behind the mic in the Investec Media Centre is the next best thing to actually playing out in the middle, so it’s a thrilling experience for us. We sincerely hope that our service is both entertaining and informative for those who travel to the ground to enjoy a game.”

Gates will open at 10.00am on all four days of the MCC v Champion County match beginning Friday 13th April, with play due to begin at 11.00am. Ground admission prices are £12 for adults and £6 for U-16s and over-65s.
For spectators with sight problems, the headsets providing live commentary are available from the gates or any steward in the ground.

Spectators unable to travel to Lord’s for the four-day MCC v Champion County fixture from Friday 13th April can listen to the Ball by Ball commentary by clicking on Live ball-by-ball commentary.

Listeners to this service can e-mail the commentary team:ballbyball@lords.org.

To view the full list of fixtures at Lord’s in 2007, click here.