It's a tough gig playing cricket when you can't always see the ball. Just ask Julie Neumann, who is a wicketkeeper for Queensland's Blind and Low Vision team.
"My legs are completely covered in bruises and so are my hands. And people think that I'm crazy," Neumann said.
And her response to those people:
"Every bruise is a ball stopped, so I've done my job.
"Sighted people will say 'why don't you use your hands' — and that's fair enough — but when you can't see the ball … our bodies are a lot bigger than our hands."
With her body on the line, the 45-year-old hairdresser and mother of nine padded up recently for the National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC) in Brisbane.
In the competition, 16 teams represent their states and territories in three divisions: blind and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, and cricketers with an intellectual disability.
Neumann was one of a record 10 women (nine in the blind and low-vision division) among 225 players across the championships.
"I just love being out there," Neumann said.
"The guys here are so supportive and welcoming of everybody, regardless of ability."
After a long time away from the game, the competition was also about pursuing a personal goal.
"My dream at the moment is to make it to Birmingham this year as part of the International Blind Games," Neumann said.
To get selected for the Games, Neumann's performance from the NCIC will be assessed, including previous performances and attitude. But even if she doesn't make the Australian team, she wants to go to the UK to support whoever does.
"Even if I can't play, I'm still going to be a part of it and encourage all women and girls that cricket is a good sport and it can take you all over the world."
A life changed at 33
At 33 years of age, Neumann felt like she lost her vision overnight.
"I just woke up one morning and I thought I had an eye infection," she said.
"I went to my optometrist, and I found out I had Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)."
RP is a genetic disease where cells in the retina break down slowly over a period of years, causing vision loss.
It affects night vision and peripheral vision in the early stages, so it is often not noticed initially. Usually it affects the central vision in the more advanced stages.
Neumann's field of vision is now down to less than five degrees, she uses a cane and has a guide dog.
When she's not playing cricket, Neumann cuts hair.
A lot of the cut comes from feel, and because she does have that narrow tunnel of vision, she can step back and take a look.
"If I was looking at you directly sitting in front of me, I would see your eye and a little bit of your nose," she said.
"I also have cataracts and optic nerve damage and cysts behind the macula. So anything past two metres becomes blurry."
When it comes to blind cricket, the ball has ball bearings in it so players have that auditory feedback coming down the pitch and along the ground.
Bowlers bowl underarm, and the ball needs to bounce before the halfway line. Some batters also have a runner.
With Neumann's small amount of vision, she can often help her teammates out on the field.
"We yell a lot more than in traditional cricket," Neumann said.
"If I can see the ball and I know where my teammates are, I can yell at them – 'Ray to your left, Ray to your right, or 12 o'clock'.
"We do have totally blind players as well. So if I can see where the ball has been hit, I can say 'Jack down' and he'll just lay flat and let's hope that he catches it … like stops it from going for a boundary or something."
Growing the game for women and girls
Neumann's talent got her selected for a women's development camp for blind and vision-impaired players in Adelaide late last year.
She was there with Courtney Webeck from New South Wales, who has only been playing cricket for six months.
"It was an amazing camp and I can't wait to be a part of, hopefully, the [Australian] women's team," Webeck said.
"It's amazing to be part of this inclusive sport, I think it's a great thing for cricket."
Webeck has not only taken up cricket recently, but tennis too.
She took the court at the Australian Open, playing alongside Alicia Molik to raise awareness of blind and low vision tennis.
“Having a role model in the sport really shows that you can do anything," she said.
Cricket Australia says it is committed to supporting the growth and development of the women's game to provide more opportunities for women and include a division at the NCIC in future.
Blind Cricket Australia is also committed to supporting the further inclusion of women-only teams on the domestic and international stage, and is excited to work with Cricket Australia to provide the best opportunities for women across the country.
Whether it is cricket or tennis, Webeck appreciates the spaces she has walked into.
"The community around both is incredible, whatever state you’re in," she said.
"All states have such great team work and they ease in people around them. I think that’s amazing for the sports.”
And her advice to others who want to follow in hers and Neumann's footsteps:
"Just follow your dreams. Have a go and enjoy it, that’s the main thing."
