CRICKET ENTHUSIAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1936, Page 7

CRICKET ENTHUSIAST

BLIND SYDNEY YOUTH. , SYDNEY, October 31. As the English cricketers travel the country during the present test series they will be seen, cheered and barracked by hundreds of thousands. But they will have no closer follower of their fortunes than 18-year-old Bill Sinclair, of Leichhardt, who is deaf and blind. Although living iii a world of complete silence and darkness, Bill is enthusiastic about cricket. He has invented a cricket game, and his one ambition is to meet Wally Hammond—and to play like him. B.ill’s only way of communcating with the outside world is by sense of touch. During the last test series he sat by the wireless with his mother or brother beside him. As the news came through they tapped in sign language on to Bill’s hand, and told him how the game was going. That is how he, will follow the present test series and the .fortunes of his hero, Hammond. Bill barracks for the Englishmen because he was born in Scotland. He, came to Australia when lie was a baby; He plays cricket with a ball suspended from a ..cord'. He stands off with a baseball bat. and never misses. The thrill of the game to him is in the impact of bat and ball.

Bill’ Sinclair was afflicted with deafness following meningitis, when a toddler. But it was not until he was nine and was attending an institution that he became blind. His progress from the',' time he was thrown into darkness -was extraordinary. He was taught typewriting and handwork at the institution. He has a typewriter at home for writing his letters, and he does macrame work, chiefly handbags. Now he is busy making a kennel for his dog. ' . His mother said that he was’under the care of a specialist, and they were hoping that one day he would get back his sight. Bill is hoping and dreaming for the day when he will stand at the wicket, see the ball come flving towards him. and hit it.