Venter celebrates winning deaf cricketer hat-trick

Two-time Maccabi Games gold medallist, Colin Venter, recently became the first cricketer to win the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Hearing-Impaired Cricket Player of the Year award three times.

This King David Linksfield alumnus was one of the star international South African cricketers, such as Proteas players Marco Jansen and Quinton de Kock, to be awarded at what he describes as a “dazzling” CSA Awards evening on 5 September.

“The award meant a lot to me as it came full circle since my last awards in 2012 and 2013, becoming the first deaf cricketer to win the award three times,” says the 35-year-old Venter who captains the Lions Deaf Cricket and South Africa Deaf cricket teams. “At my age, it’s humbling to receive this award through my experience, leadership, and putting a lot of effort into fitness.”

The award recognises a hearing-impaired cricketer who has not only demonstrated cricketing talent over the past year, but an ability to overcome challenges with determination and grace.

“The past year was an excellent year for me with the ball, as I managed to take 10 wickets at the IPT [Inter-provincial] Tournament in Cape Town and captained the Lions Deaf Cricket side to win the tournament,” Venter says. “I took my first T20 hat-trick against Boland.”

Venter was one of the 13 Lions cricketers awarded at the awards evening, attended by “high-profile players and leaders including Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie”.

Venter made his international debut for the South Africa Deaf cricket team in 2011 in Australia, and was made captain in 2016, following in the footsteps of his dad and uncle, who represented South Africa in the inaugural 1996 Deaf World Cup in Melbourne, with his dad captaining the team.

“I come from a cricket-mad family with my dad and uncle being the pinnacle in my cricket journey,” Venter says. “They started their career in 1977 after school, and have been involved with Lions Deaf Cricket for many years.”

Venter’s brother and cousins helped to set his foundation in backyard cricket. He went on to play for King David, and started his Lions journey at the age of 14.

“I grew up in a small family with Judaism on my mother’s side, and attending King David enhanced my experience,” he says.

Venter was born into a predominantly deaf family, and he and his brother are hard of hearing, so he wears two hearing aids.

“The only challenge we face on the cricket field is not hearing the ‘snicks behind’ when batters edge the ball towards the wicketkeeper and slips, and usually that can prove to be the difference between a wicket and winning the game. Communication is very visual in sign language, so it takes a bit of time to position the field and communicate with players on the other side of the field.”

Reflecting on his journey from playing for King David to captaining the national team, Venter says, “I started playing club cricket at 11 with adults, so that helped to bring the experience into school cricket. I remember being the fast bowler, all the other kids at the school would tell me to ‘please bowl slow’ to them. I played first-team cricket and was fortunate enough to be under the guidance of fellow cricketer and captain, Matthew Rosen, at school and Maccabi cricket.”

Having received half colours for cricket at King David, Venter played cricket at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), receiving half colours and playing in the University Sports South Africa tournament.

A teacher by trade, Venter is the head of the e-platform department of eDeaf, a service and training provider.

He captained South Africa in the Deaf International Cricket Council T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates this year. “With more than 30 caps, I’m proud to say that we had the best winning rate among previous years and won our first international trophy, which holds a special place in my cabinet. Knowing I can contribute to my country through sport in a different format is the biggest honour of my cricketing career.”

Aside from his national duties, he plays for the Lions Deaf Cricket team in the Saturday leagues. “We play against hearing clubs. Our home ground is at Marks Park Cricket Club. Every year, we participate in the Inter-provincial Tournament, which is hosted across South Africa and is the pinnacle of selection for the South African side.

“The tournament is for deaf people only and no hearing devices are allowed on the field of play. This gives deaf players the opportunity to be selected for the South African side.”

Winning two golds at the Maccabi Games ranks as one of his most memorable cricketing moments. “In 2013, my first Maccabi Games didn’t end well as I tore an ankle ligament in the first match and could no longer participate. The team, with its grittiness, managed to win the gold medal with 11 players throughout. The second Maccabi Games I participated in was in 2017, when I was selected as flag bearer for the South African team,” following in the footsteps of the likes of Proteas batsman Adam Bacher. “I fared really well with the ball, and we eventually won the gold medal, defeating Great Britain.”

Other highlights from his cricketing journey include being nominated Gauteng Sportsmen of the Year with a Disability in 2015, and captaining Lions Deaf Cricket to a 21-game unbeaten streak.

In the Inter-provincial Tournament at Durbanville Cricket Club in April 2023, Venter memorably took five wickets in his final over against Boland, before being named man of the match in the final game against Western Province.

Venter’s cricketing success comes down to “hard work behind the scenes of bowling many balls, training, and fitness sessions. Perseverance, staying humble, and playing hard cricket is the secret.”

Having won many provincial trophies, “I would like to win a World Cup or Champions Trophy hosted by the Deaf International Cricket Council,” he says.