Noisy Balls

Episode 13 of Noisy Balls sees me sit down with the VBCA Vice President Dan Pritchard. Dan has been involved in blind cricket since 2008 and he certainly is extremely passionate about ensuring that as many people who are blind and visually-impaired have the opportunity of participating in blind and vi sport. We explore Dan's life growing up, as well as the numerous blind cricket tournaments that Dan has been a part of, and this episode is all about ensuring that listeners to the show are...

On episode 12 of Noisy Balls, I had an inspiring chat with a legend of the English game, Geoff Smith. Geoff played a massive role in the agreement for the BBS Primary Club Cup Final to be played at the Nursery Ground at Lords, an arrangement that ran from 1992 until 2008. Most of his playing career was for London Metro and for Sussex Sharks, he played a big part in starting the latter club. Geoff won the National League title and the BBS Cup during his playing career, doing so on many...

On episode 11 of Noisy Balls, I had the extremely enjoyable opportunity of chatting with someone that is certainly much loved and well known locally, nationally and internationally. I am of course talking about the brilliant blind cricket umpire Michael Clemens. Michael has an impressive resume to his name, with some of his qualifications including Bachelor of Business (RMIT), Diploma of Financial Planning (Deakin University), Diploma of Education (LaTrobe University), Graduate Diploma of...

On the first bonus episode of Noisy Balls, we welcome the President of the Victorian Blind Cricket Association back to the pavilion, Lindsay Heaven. Lindsay popped on to the pod to update what has been going on with the VBCA board in terms of preparations for the upcoming season and also to let everyone know of the two grants that the team have applied for and successfully acquired and how this will effect those participating in the upcoming season. We also conversed on the exciting...

On Episode 10 of Noisy Balls, we headed back over to the UK and had a thoroughly entertaining, but exceedingly informative natter with Blind Cricket England & Wales wicket keeper Dan Field. Dan has been an integral part of the Sussex Sharks VI cricket team for almost two decades and was picked to play for the UK men's VI cricket team back in 2006. We chatted about many and varied subjects in this episode, from Dan's thoughts on playing for Sussex, to the highs and lows of being a part of...

On this episode of Noisy Balls, I had the honour of speaking with Cricket Australia Diversity And Inclusion Specialist Aaron Dragwidge. Aaron has been one of the driving forces behind Cricket Australia’s Sport For All initiative and, in particular, their rapidly growing disability inclusion programs. He is transforming Cricket’s approach to the inclusion of people with disability and has a passion for inclusion and human rights. Aaron has always been exceedingly passionate about...

On this episode of Noisy Balls, I had the most delightful conversation with Cricket Victoria's inclusion and participation officer, Rohail Akhtar. Rohail has had a rather unusual life, starting in his younger years by living in Dubai, which is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. He then moved to Melbourne at a very young age and as you will find out, he has always had a great passion for cricket, both in playing the game, as...

On this episode of Noisy Balls, I spoke with someone who will probably be well known to some of you, especially if you are residing in the UK or you know a little bit about UK vi cricket. My guest this week is Justin Hollingsworth. Justin is currently studying and working at the University of East Anglia. As a part of his Sports Development course, he is able to work within the UEA Sports team as a sports ambassador. He is currently the vice captain of the England Visually Impaired cricket...

On this episode of Noisy Balls, I was privileged to speak with Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar. Mahantesh GK is the Founder Managing Trustee of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, President of Cricket Association for the Blind in India-CABI and World Blind Cricket Ltd (WBC). Being a blind cricket player himself who participated in many national tournaments during his cricketing days, he has always strived to boost the game. Having witnessed the struggles of blind cricket players in...

On this episode of Noisy Balls, I had the great pleasure of interviewing the totally blind radio and television commentator Dean du Plessis, who currently hosts his own very impressive podcast Dean At Stumps. Dean was born with tumors behind both retinas, destroying his eyesight before birth. He subsequently had both eyes removed, and currently wears glass eyes. Dean's brother Gary played first class cricket in Zimbabwe for the Mashonaland A cricket team. Dean started his love affair...

In the fourth episode of Noisy Balls, I had the great honour of speaking with a legend of the Sussex Sharks VI cricket team Ian (Tiny) Morris. Ian has led a rather unusual and varied life, starting off with him working in the bio chemistry field and leading right through to him now being employed for The Guide Dogs For The Blind Association (UK). He even manages to find time to be on his very own podcast Pompy Politics Podcast, so go and check that out for some quirky political...

On the third episode of Noisy Balls, I had the great privilege of interviewing Travis Zimmer, someone who many of our listeners will not know a great deal about, but after you hear his story, you will realise, how important his narrative is and it really will resonate with many of you, especially if you have struggled with the difficulties of being blind or visually-impaired and how you can go about moving your life forward in a positive, productive and meaningful way. Travis has only been...

On the second episode of Noisy Balls, I was privileged to speak to long-time advocate and all-round nice guy Martin Stewart. I have to tell you all that this is an interview that I have been wanting to do for many years and I am absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity to speak with such a charismatic and insightful personality. Martin talked with me about his extremely painful childhood, the highs and lows when he played blind cricket for the Braille Blind Cricket Club, for...

On the inaugural episode of Noisy Balls, we spoke with the now current president of the Victorian Blind Cricket AssociationLindsay Heaven and I have to say, I certainly learnt some things that I did not know about the great man and I appreciate him coming on and telling us more about his incredible journey. Lindsay told us all about his early years and how we was a very proficient hockey player, what drew him to Singapore, Brisbane and Sydney and his passion for ensuring that blind cricket...

Introducing Noisy Balls, a blind cricketing podcast which I produce with the help of our members, for our members and supporters locally, nationally and internationally. Noisy Balls is proudly sponsored by the Victorian Blind Cricket Associationand we appreciate the VBCA's support as we bring in a new dawn in blind cricket podcasting. A huge thanks to Trav Zimmer for creating the artwork for the podcast, Scott Peucker for suggesting the name Noisy Balls and to Lindsay Heaven for planting...