Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2020

16 twitter: @scloverssociety Cricket in 2019 was full of moments which stopped you in your tracks. Whether watching on television, listening to the radio or following on social media, cricket delivered a drama which left us amazed and almost unbelieving of what was taking place. Unless you were lucky enough to have been at Lord’s for that thrilling World Cup final or at Headingley when Ben Stokes gained legendary status in winning the third Ashes Test, with the heroic 135 not out, you needed something and someone to transport you there.Television, computers, tablets, phones or radios carried us to the place which not only cricket lovers wanted to be, but also anyone with an ounce of life and drama in them. The technology provided the vehicle but it was the human voice of the commentator which placed us firmly in the seat, undoubtedly getting to our feet and standing up, but still at the seat. Some people seem so natural at describing what they see, one can easily overlook there is an art and a skill to the job. It’s often referred to as the rhythm of a commentator. The rhythm is essential to keep us - the viewer or listener - secure. We need to feel engaged, excited and gripped by the action unfolding. But should the commentators fail to deliver the events in a manner which you can easily follow it’s useless, confusing and a let down. Jonathan Agnew is the best in the business. Undoubtedly his years as a player for Leicestershire and England stand him in good stead but he’s learned and developed an incomparable style. A modern day advance is to be able to watch Jonathan in action as well as listen to him. To look various moments up on a search engine is a must for anyone who wants to forge a career in sports broadcasting or broadcasting in general, an example being the winning crescendo at Headingley in the ‘Stokes’ Test. It’s not only what he says but how he says it. Nothing more impressive than the control he maintains, the ease in which he says nothing, but let’s the crowd carry us all in the moment. The aim to make you feel you are there, the best seat in the house. He has Sir Alastair Cook alongside him plus an increasingly despairing Australian, Glenn McGrath, but Agnew is in charge. He knows to hold back the emotion so as to rise to the occasion at just the right moment. The vital component of light and shade. He says, “One to win”. Then pauses. He continues, “In comes Pat Cummins from the far end and bowls to Stokes, who hammers it for four”. By now, his voice is almost at breaking point. He’s shot to his feet as most of his listeners will have done. He’s almost announcing to the world, “He (Stokes) stands there with the bat raised”. Another short pause. “I can’t believe we’ve seen that”. Another pause. That pause is interrupted at just the right moment by Cook, who says, “That is the most The Magic ... BBC cricket commentator and regular visitor to SCLS, Kevin Howells , talks about how great moments are often made even more memorable.