Cricket for the visually impaired comes to Wavertree on Friday – and chairman Phill O’Brien thinks it’s worth making a noise about.

Thanks to adaptations including a ball which rattles when it bounces, the club regularly hosts sessions at its Sandown Lane base.

O’Brien thinks the numbers are only scratching the surface when it comes to those who could benefit – both in and out of the visually impaired community.

He said: “Of the regular eight or nine who attend practices, they’re all within a five-minute journey of Wavertree.

“There have to be other people who are visually impaired who would benefit from team sport.”

And by using special goggles which simulate an impairment, sighted cricketers can also get involved.

Wavertree’s VI team take on Old Xaverians’ women’s side from 6pm on Friday – and O’Brien is keen for other clubs to get in touch if they fancy a new kind of cricketing experience.

“It’s fun,” he added. “They’re a nice bunch of guys and girls and it is a challenge to bat based on audio feedback. People do enjoy it when they have a go.”

An organisation called British Blind Sport runs a classification system for visually impaired sportspeople, similar to that used in the Paralympics. 

For those with the most severe impairments – categorised as B1 – there are extra rules. 

The ball has to bounce twice for a B1 batter, and they get a runner, while B1 fielders can claim a catch after the ball has bounced once.

O’Brien added: “ I want people in the cricket community who know anyone who’s visually impaired to tell them there’s an offer on. 

“Any age is fine, we’ve got a 16-year-old and a 75-year-old, there’s a place for everyone, it doesn’t matter if you’re experienced. 

“And if there are clubs or teams who would be interested in experiencing the visual impairment game, we can give them fixtures as well.

“The next closest club doing this is in Bolton, and there’s a team based out of Manchester called Lancashire Lions who represent Lancashire in the County Championship.

“But there’s nowhere else close.”

Wavertree’s VI side also play Newsham Park on July 25, and there is a practice session on August 8.