Umesh Valjee: England Deaf cricketer on sledging, career and retirement thoughts

Valjee went on to make his England debut in the first Deaf Ashes in 1992 at the start of a career spanning 32 years. He has contributed 2,939 runs in 88 matches, most recently playing in England’s defeat by India in last month’s T20 series.

It is not international glory that keeps Valjee going, but rather the all-too-rare sense of belonging and community which he wants to preserve for future generations.

“Growing up, I knew I was deaf and there were barriers, but it was normal to me. I put up with it. That was life,” he says.

“It is society’s problem. People could learn some sign language to make our lives a bit easier.

“You can be very isolated around a hearing cricket club. Even in the bar, you often think, ‘Oh I’ll just go home, it’s not worth hanging about’. That happened to me a lot over the years.

“I’d love to stay and chat, but it is such hard work. You end up doing thumbs-up for everything and you can’t have a proper conversation. It is a shame.”

England Deaf players must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their better ear – which is equivalent to normal conversation – and remove hearing devices during play, meaning communication ranges from lip reading, speaking, to signing.

“I’ve seen deaf players go from a hearing world to their world. They find their friends, connect and inspire each other,” Valjee says.

“At home, even if they are hearing with an aid and speaking, there’s still nobody like them around them so they get that from the deaf cricket environment.

“I get excited when I’m with England or the pan-disability domestic teams. I’m like, ‘Ah that is my people, and I can talk to them’.”