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The year was 1991 and I was just another self-conscious teenager. Skinny. Pimples. Railroad tracks across my teeth. Although I was a blind boy attending a blind school, there were some partially sighted girls and word was that they were pretty.Ensconced in my bedroom at boarding school in Worcester, South Africa, I scanned through the radio stations, looking for something to occupy my mind. Suddenly my ears were assaulted by a cacophony of sounds. South Africa were playing an ODI in India after being readmitted to international cricket.I had heard the names of some of the South Africans - Kepler Wessels, Allan Donald, Jimmy Cook. But I didnt even know what a six was. Although my older brother Gary was a good cricketer back home in Zimbabwe, and I had heard people talking about the game, it didnt really mean anything to me. How could I picture it when I had never seen it?A week later, I was back home for the holidays. Gary and my parents picked me up from the airport. The whole way home from Harare to Kadoma, a two-hour journey, I asked them questions about the game. My dad and Gary were bewildered as to where this interest in cricket had come from, but they supplied the answers that became the building blocks of my passion. I started soaking up facts and names like a sponge, listening intently to debates about the differing merits of Donald and Eddo Brandes.By the end of the holidays I had a firm grasp on the game, and my excitement was peaking because I knew there would be commentary of Currie Cup matches on the radio when I got back to South Africa.The following year the World Cup came around, and Zimbabwe beat England, with Brandes bowling our old export Graeme Hick for a duck. I was totally hooked.When Zimbabwe were suddenly given Test status later that year, and lined up a Test against India, I figured there was only one way that I would be able to follow it. For weeks before the game, I saved my pocket money and converted it into coins. I knew the telephone number for the call box at the Red Lion, a pub at Harare Sports Club, and when the Test got underway, I started calling it to find out the score. Sometimes someone would answer, but they werent always that friendly.In the end I reverted to calling Radio One in Zimbabwe, where people were friendly but didnt necessarily know what was going on. Maybe you can make sense of this, they would say. It says two-seven-five divided by four. Eventually they knew when it was me calling, because they could hear the coins dropping into the pay phones coin box as the call went through. Yes, is that the guy calling from South Africa? they would ask.Soon cricket became an obsession. I managed to obtain Dave Houghtons home number and started calling him to talk about the game for as long as my allowance would hold out. One day as we were chatting, he heard the beep beep beep that warns you the call is about to be dropped because the money has run out. Quickly, he said, whats your number? He just managed to jot it down in time and then called me back.The following Sunday, Old Hararians played Alexandra Sports Club, and afterwards everyone was having a beer in the bar. Davie mentioned to my brother what a pleasure it had been talking to me. Gary went home and told my parents, and soon my dad was asking me why I was spending money that was meant for toothpaste and deodorant on phone calls to Houghton. I told him that Davie had called me back, but that just got me into more trouble.I also used to call Eddo, although he never called me back. And at one stage Grant Flower and Alistair Campbell were sharing a flat in town, and I got their number. They were pretty happy to talk, but Houghton is the only person Ive met whose appetite for discussing cricket exceeded my own. Many years later, after I had become a commentator, the two of us were driving from Harare to Bulawayo for a cricket match. The only break from cricket chatter on the five-hour journey was when we passed through Kadoma, and he said, Gee, Im a bit thirsty, and stopped for a drink.My commentary career came about almost by accident. I had finished school and was back in Zimbabwe in 1999, working on the switchboard for an irrigation company, when Sri Lanka came to visit. I met Ravi Shastri, who was there as a neutral commentator, and was allowed to sit in the commentary box so long as I promised not to make a sound. Eventually some of the commentators started chatting to me and asking for my opinions.Two years later India were back in Zimbabwe, and Shastri interviewed me during one of the tea breaks. Afterwards I was loitering around the press box when I heard a voice that I recognised from my school days in South Africa. It was Neil Manthorp, and I introduced myself. He was doing radio commentary for Cricinfo on the game and asked if I would join him. He ran it by his boss in London, who told him to keep it to 15 minutes. But as it went on, the editor emailed to tell Neil to keep me on for the rest of the slot, and then for the series. My television debut came in 2003 when Mike Haysman persuaded the director to get me on during the second one-day international against West Indies in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe won the game, with Heath Streak and Mark Vermeulen taking them to a six-wicket victory, and the celebrations were extra sweet that night.I was born with tumours behind both retinas, so my eyesight was destroyed before birth. The doctors told my parents that I had three to five months to live. I had my left eye removed when I was three months old, and my right eye came out in 2001, leaving me with two glass eyes.This came in handy during an encounter with Darrell Hair during Englands tour to Zimbabwe in 2004. We had briefly met in Harare, and in Bulawayo we got chatting some more. Zimbabwe had been on the receiving end of several bad decisions from him, so I said, Darrell, Ive got something Id like to give you to help you out. I took out my right eye and put it in his hand. He went very quiet, then apparently he glowered at me, and then started to smile. Eventually he put his head back and bellowed with laughter. Eventually I had to remind him to please give me my eye back.As remarkable as my story is, I know there are things that only a sighted commentator can do. For example, I cant analyse the field placements and make suggestions of how they could be changed. But I still feel I have a lot to offer.When Im wired into the stump microphone, I can generally make out who is bowling from listening to the way that they land and how they grunt, and from that point there are many giveaways as to what has happened. The length of time between the sound of the ball pitching and hitting the bat, the shuffle of the batsmans feet, and the type of noise that emanates from the bat striking the ball, all give me an idea of what shot has been played. Then the different calls of various batsmen, and the shouts of the fielders or the sound of the crowd, suggest whether the ball has pierced the field and how far it may have gone. So I can follow the game carefully, and along with the facts, figures, scorecards and conversations that Ive stored in my mind over the years, I can perform a role as an analyst.To date, the only places Ive travelled for cricket are South Africa and Bangladesh. Opportunities have been a bit short lately, and things in Zimbabwe are not easy. But one day I hope to get out there and see the world. Tim Beckham Jersey . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Frank Robinson Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.theoriolesteamshop.com/Orioles-Ubaldo-Jimenez-Kids-Jersey/ . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Darren ODay Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Brad Brach Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. CINCINNATI -- Dan Straily thought there was no chance Billy Hamilton would get to the ball. The center fielder ran it down and made a diving catch on the warning track, providing the only break that the pitcher needed.Straily extended his surge since the All-Star break by pitching six innings and Joey Votto drove in a pair of runs to lead the Cincinnati Reds over the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday night.A day after losing to the Dodgers 18-9, the Reds won a close one against a Rangers team that has been shut out three times in its last nine games.Straily (10-6) hasnt allowed more than two runs in any of his eight starts since the break, going 6-0. He gave up three singles and two walks. He also got a huge assist from Hamilton, who ran down Carlos Beltrans fly to left-center field to open the sixth with the game scoreless.I usually have a pretty good angle on most of them, and that was the first one all year I thought he had no shot, Straily said. I was starting to move over to back up third, but he found a way. Its pretty amazing what hes doing out there.The remarkable catch was a potential game-changer.It was just a spectacular play, manager Bryan Price said. What a difference he makes in center field. If he doesnt win a Gold Glove, theres no justice.Raisel Iglesias gave up two hits in the seventh but escaped the threat with two strikeouts. Tony Cingrani gave up two walks in the ninth before retiring Ryan Rua on a grounder to complete his 16th save in 21 chances.Votto singled home a run in the sixth off left-hander Derek Holland (5-6), who had been on the disabled list since June 22 with an inflamed pitching shoulder. Holland gave up four hits and a walk in six innings. He also got his first major league hit, a single off the plate that bounced over Vottos head at first base.Holland grew up in Newark, Ohio, and had been unbeaten in his home state, going 3-0 in games in Cleveland. He would have loved to get another one at the other end of the state.That would have been very nice, he said. I left quite a lot of tickets. It was definitely good to be back in Ohio in front of family and friends.ddddddddddddHollands only walk set up the run. He walked Tyler Holt -- who pitched a perfect relief inning during Mondays lopsided loss -- to open the sixth. Holt advanced on Hamiltons sacrifice bunt and came around on Vottos single to right.Tyler Barnhart doubled home a run in the seventh off Jeremy Jeffress. Votto added a sacrifice fly in the eighth off Matt Bush.STILL HITLESSStraily grounded out in his only at-bat, leaving him 0 for 43 in his career. Cubs pitcher Jon Lester holds the record for a hitless streak to start a career at 0 for 66.INTERLEAGUE RECORDSThe Rangers are 10-6 in interleague play this season, with their pitchers going 3 for 19 at the plate. The Reds are 5-11. ... The Rangers are making their first visit to Cincinnati since 2007. The Reds lead the interleague series 8-7.GOMEZ UPDATEOF Carlos Gomez could join the club in Texas on Thursday. He signed a minor league deal on Saturday and is playing for Triple-A Round Rock. Manager Jeff Banister said hell get a chance to play left field and right field.JOSH HAMILTON WAIVEDThe Rangers placed OF Josh Hamilton on unconditional release waivers, though they hope his left knee is healthy enough to allow him to try for a spot with the team next season. By making the move now, hes eligible to play for them all of next season. He had surgery on June 8 to reconstruct his ACL and repair cartilage damage.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: RHP Colby Lewis will pitch for Frisco on a rehab assignment Wednesday. Hes been sidelined since June 25 with a strained back.Reds: SS Zack Cozart missed his sixth straight game with a sore left Achilles tendon.UP NEXTRangers: Yu Darvish (4-3) is 2-0 in his last three starts with a 1.74 ERA. He has made six straight quality starts, matching the club high for the season.Reds: Tim Adleman (2-1) makes his sixth career start and his first against the Rangers. ' ' '