Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2020

17 www.sheffieldcricketlovers.org.uk extraordinary innings ever, ever, to be played by an Englishman”. Agnew again takes the wheel, “He punches the air. His helmet is off. He was hit on that helmet this morning. Bits flew off all over the place and he’s now sunk to his knees...............” A master at his work. Whenever I hear that again, and we will believe me, I will be thinking of sitting next to a radio, listening with my son. Others, strangers to each other, were photographed standing around a rock on a Cornish beach with a radio balancing precariously on top of it. A genuine ‘where were you when’ moment. We remember where we were and along with the people immediately around us, so too, with us, was Jonathan, the commentator. Great moments which can appear easier than the more everyday theatre of sport. Trying to maintain an energy and enthusiasm for a game which isn’t being played out in front of thousands provides an altogether different challenge. Yet still you’ve got to convince the audience that, where you are, right now, is the place to be. Television is a different beast to deal with. There the commentator is not painting pictures but putting the final touches to what you can see, making it stand out. On those occasions, the unforgettable one liners can make a career. Forever etched in our minds, Kenneth Wolstenholme in the 1966 football World Cup: “Some of the crowd are on the pitch, they think it’s all over”. Don’t forget the all important pause and timing........“it is now”. At times commentators try too hard to find the right words and it sounds forced, unnatural and, let’s face it, most of the time they go straight over our heads. I did like hearing one of the new commentators, former England bowler, Isha Guha, describing the unstoppable force of Australian Steve Smith reaching yet another double hundred; “another world class innings from a man playing in a world of his own”. One sentence and Smith’s summer was summed up neatly and cleverly. It’s great to see and hear a more diverse set of commentators these days. I’ll never forget in my first year in a Test Match Special commentary box, being asked by two commentators on different occasions, “Which school did you go to?”. Two lovely blokes who were both very friendly and helpful but clearly expecting me to have gone to a private school. The question really threw me and although I’ve had some great days with super people along the way, I’ve always felt like an outsider. But most importantly, the commentary box is an exciting place to be. A privilege, which I too frequently forget. No matter what their backgrounds the commentators are there to share their good fortune of being in the right place at the right time, to strike the right tone; win, lose, draw... or tie! ...of the airways