Victorian blind cricketer Christine Casey is World Cup-bound

Her inclusion in the Australian squad comes after a successful campaign at the National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC) in Geelong earlier this week.

Casey is a school teacher, who has also spent time living and working in the Pacific Islands teaching children with a disability.

“I love teaching, so outside of cricket I mostly do music and teaching. Cricket is a thing I do for relaxation and enjoyment,” Casey said.

Her current students are in awe of her achievements on the cricket field regularly asking her for autographs as she prepares for National and International competition.

“My students think it’s awesome, there were a couple asking for autographs, which I thought was quite surprising,” Casey laughed.

The enthusiasm and support generated from the last week at the NCIC in Geelong has been particularly evident for Casey.

“I think that it’s so great that Cricket Australia is so supportive of blind cricket. That’s fantastic. And I think it’s helping us get more recognition for the sport, and I guess, become more linked in with regular cricket, and that’s a really important thing,” Casey added.

The Blind Twenty20 World Cup, which features 10 nations, will take place from January 30 to February 12 at venues across India.

The Australian Twenty20 World Cup squad features players from right across the country, with Victoria (four), New South Wales (four), South Australia (three), Queensland (three), Western Australia (two) and ACT (one) all represented.

Australia T20 Blind Cricket World Cup Squad
B3: Matt McCarthy – vice-captain (QLD), Stephen Palmer (SA), Steffan Nero (WA), Ray Moxly (QLD), Mike Hamilton (ACT), Jack McAlister (QLD), Ned Brewer (VIC)
B2: Lindsay Heaven – captain (NSW), Matt Cameron (NSW), Dan Pritchard (VIC), Brad Brider (WA), Mark Haskett (SA)
B1: Brendan Spencer (VIC), Michael Zannis (SA), Vaughan Roles (NSW), David Saxberg (NSW), Christine Casey (VIC)