Kudos to blind cricketers

Inspiration sometimes comes from areas we least expect. I learnt that lesson again recently at the YMPC ground on Beckles Road, St Michael.

A couple Saturdays ago I went there to get some insight into blind cricket. The rest is history.

Very often those of us who are physically able sit around and complain, especially when things are not going right. We act as though there is nothing we can do to better our situation.

On the other hand, there are those who are differently able who strive to get on with their lives despite the stumbling blocks they encounter and the hurdles they have to climb just to survive.

Perhaps, it is the misunderstanding of the wider society that drives them to prove themselves, or maybe on their own initiative they decide that life has meaning in spite of any disability and they will fill their space in productive ways.

The ways and means and general accessibility to resources that could help improve the quality of their lives have and will continue to be crucial.

If anything, they need more assistance than those without any known disability and the system must respond in a genuine and caring manner to facilitate those services which will bring change, growth and upliftment while enhan-cing their self-esteem.

But it is a matter of education. And it is in this respect that greater efforts are being made to enlighten the public about those who are differently able. These efforts are bearing fruit. More people now than before are getting on board to assist in whatever way they can.

I would submit, though, that there has always been great visibility and focus on those who are physically challenged, particularly through the work of Special Olympics.

And there are some athletes who have come through these ranks to prove they can beat the odds and even compete on a level playing field against those without mental and physical challenges.

Perhaps Ryan Nurse is the best known example. A few years ago he won a gold medal in the 400-metre hurdles at the CARIFTA Games.

Last year he represented West Indies at the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka and is presently in the Barbados squad for the Carib Beer Cricket Series. He is also an outstanding footballer.

International cyclist Daniel Coulthurst is another who is making his mark. He performed creditably at the last Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. In fact, it is felt that but for an unfortunate spill he could have won a medal for Barbados.

In essence, there is hope for people who are differently able and, like the Mighty Gabby's jingle says: We don't want no pity, we just want to be right there with you, give us a hand when we're coming through.

This is a pro-active stance and one which calls for integration rather than separation and discrimination. The start of blind cricket is the perfect flagbearer for this concept.

After all, cricket is our national sport and should seek to include everybody who has an interest in contributing as a player or an administrator.

With no prejudice or disrespect to the other sports that have brought us glory, it is the achievements of cricketers that are more noted, raise the bar of self-esteem and make us more confident and self-assured as a people.

Mind you, there is plenty of philosophical and historical evidence to prove why it is and should be so.

And I have to tell you that the level of enthusiasm I witnessed among the blind cricketers at YMPC was in no way inferior to what you would expect from normal players.

Full credit must go to the players for being so highly motivated and to the Council For The Disabled for putting the structure in place where they can learn this form of the game.

Coaches Wendell Coppin and Leroy Williams and their assistants have done a tremendous job on honing the skills of the cricketers in a relatively short period. Everyone involved can be proud of the stage they have reached in about six months.

Based on the degree of industry the players have been exhibiting I expect them to be very competitive when they face the much more experienced English team later this month.

And don't be surprised if they maintain the great tradition our cricketers have established through the years. In fact, you may even find their performances to be very inspirational.