ECB to display BSL messaging at all first-class venues this summer

Joel Harris (left) and Jake Oakes (right) from England's Deaf Team worked with more than 70 players from the men's and women's game to launch the ECB's anti-discriminatory messaging campaign

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will use British Sign Language (BSL) to promote anti-discriminatory messaging at all first-class grounds this summer.

The videos will use men's and women's players local to each county to promote messages against discriminatory behaviour.

Messages will be shown at all matches, including England internationals.

The move comes as part of Sign Language Week.

Joel Harris and Jake Oakes from the England Deaf Team spent time with more than 70 players from each of the counties and women's regional teams at Edgbaston, teaching them how to communicate using BSL as part of the campaign.

Harris, a member of Middleton Cricket Club in Greater Manchester, was part of the 2022 England team that won the Deaf Ashes for the first time in Australia.

"British Sign Language isn't an easy language to learn," said Harris. "The players have been amazing in the way they have wanted to learn. I have had a lot of good feedback.

"We're not asking the players to be knowledgeable, but they've wanted to know more. We've taught them their lines and some of the basics like how important facial expressions and body movement is alongside hand gestures. They're small but important things for the deaf community to feel welcomed."