Tara Murray
After watching the last T20 Blind World Cup from the side lines, St Albans’ Steve Obeid is keen to be part of the action.
Obied has been part of the Australian blind cricket set-up for the last five or six years, but had to wait to make his debut until earlier this year.
He managed to hold his spot in the side, named in Australia’s World Cup squad that heads to India on December 4 for warm-up matches before the event. The final is on December 17.
For Obeid, it’s been a pretty exciting year.
“It is amazing finally being able to represent my country at a World Cup” he said.
“I got my baggy green earlier in the year in the international inclusion series against New Zealand where we won 7-0.”
Obeid has tried many sports throughout the years since being diagnosed with the vision-impairment, Stargardt disease, when he was 13.
He tried cricket when he was in primary school, but it wasn’t until about 2016-17 that he returned to the sport and has been part of it ever since.
“The first time I played cricket I was in grade six,” he said. “I had to give it up as I couldn’t see the ball with colour blindness, it was dangerous for myself.
“In high school I tried to get into all the sports I could. I came across blind cricket through a couple of friends.
“They played in a domestic league in Kooyong in about 206-17 and they asked me to come and try that.”
Obeid showed some signs early on and was invited to be part of the Australian blind cricket set up.
He was named in extended squads and trained with them, before finally making his debut this year.
“I just kept on doing my best and working on my craft and skills and doing what I can to the best of my ability,” he said.
“I made the extended squad for the 2018 world cup in Dubai when I was still relatively new to the sport.
“I didn’t get the chance to play in that competition, but it was good to get to know my teammates and understand their vision impairments.
“It gave me that experience and showed me what to do.”
Obeid, who is a batsman and back up wicketkeeper, said he spent COVID-19 during to keep his skills up while he couldn’t play any sport.
He said he was looking forward to the World Cup and testing himself against the best in the world.
“In India they love their cricket and treat everyone like a rock star, so I’m expecting and incredible reception.
“It’s the best of the best and there will be tough opponents and there will be some hard fought battles.
“Hopefully this squad can do really well and take it to the likes of India and Pakistan who are the best in the world at the moment.
“We’re hoping to make finals.”
