22nd July 2015
| Mallory Gray
Tom Carter at Lord's
A promising young South Wales
cricketer, who lost his leg to bone cancer, has made a successful return to the
sport he loves.
Tom Carter, aged 21, is playing
again at Newport Cricket Club after a two-year absence, during which he was
diagnosed with bone cancer and had a leg amputated above the knee.
He has started coaching junior
players and has already scored two half-centuries this season.
“I’ve been coaching and am running
the under 13 B team this year,” he said. “I was a regular second team player at
Newport before everything happened to me, so as it’s my first season back for two
years, I’ve been playing in the fourths.
“It’s been a mixed season so far,
I’ve scored two 50s, and I’m just happy to be back on the pitch playing for
Newport. I’m still adapting my batting now I’ve got one leg, as I can’t play
certain shots the way I used to. I’ve also recently had a new prosthetic leg,
which is taking some getting used to, but I know I’ll get used to it, as I had
it on trial for two weeks and scored 59 not-out on it!
“I’ve been playing for my mid-week
team, The Strollers, again this season, who I’ve played for since I was 15.
I’ve taken up wicket keeping now for them, due to my lack of mobility, and I’m
enjoying it. We now play in the Teenage Cancer Trust colours.”
Tom’s prosthetic leg is fitted with
a microprocessor, giving him more mobility and stability than an ordinary
prosthetic leg. He is allowed to have a runner, when batting, and is able to
field in the slips or other close positions.
Tom is now also involved in the
Wales disability cricket team. “I’m enjoying that and really excited about the
way things are going for disability cricket, especially with the addition of
the new coach Les Randall, and the new vision for team.
Cricket Wales chief executive Peter
Hybart said: “Tom is a real inspiration. He has come through an awful time, but
thanks to the support of family, friends, and the cricket community, he is
again able to play the sport he loves.
“My hope is that Tom’s experience
will show those facing similar challenges that there is a way back.”