5 Iconic voices who will forever be missed by Cricket fans

Cricket commentary is an art. It is the most glamorous offield aspect of the game we all love. The real skill of a great commentator is to engage the viewer in the subtle nuances that may have been overlooked or may not have been comprehended by the populace.

The boom in sports broadcasting, there are more TV channels and radio stations than ever before, has seen the number of commentators soar to unimaginable levels. Any ex-cricketer with decent communication skills is now being employed by Media houses. Overreliance on statistics has proven to be a hindrance as has the urge to make a point at the expense of authenticity of the conversation.

This has led to a decline in the general quality of commentary. However, this wasn’t the case back in the day. Commentators from the yesteryears were intent on showcasing their journalistic abilities whilst stating their opinions based on their experiences on a Cricket field.

Let’s take a look at some the of iconic voices from the good old days who the Cricket fans will miss forever.

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#5 Bill Lawry

Bill Lawry at the Adelaide Oval

After retiring as a player, William Morris "Bill" Lawry started his 45-year commentary career with Channel 7 and Channel 0 Melbourne before moving to Channel 9 at the advent of World Series of Cricket. Lawry’s peculiar, animated style engaged the viewer as he described the on-field events.

Lawry is known for popularising several terms such as ‘in the air’, ‘bang, right from the middle of the bat’, ‘got him’, ‘it’s all happening in the middle’, et cetera which have now become part of common Cricket lingo.

Asked why did he always get so animated at the fall of a wicket, Lawry replied: "Well, there might only be two wickets all day, and if people are fiddling around in the kitchen and a wicket falls, I want them watching, because that's a big moment of a day's play. People want a bit of a buzz, and a wicket is a buzz, particularly if Australia are bowling."

The proud Victorian with the prominent nose confirmed his retirement from broadcasting in May 2018 at the age of 81.

#4 Robin Jackman

Robin Jackman at the Newlands, Cape Town

Born in Shimla, India during the dying days of the British Raj, Englishman Robin Jackman played first-class Cricket for Surrey and the Western Province in South Africa, where he settled into a broadcasting job after his playing days were over.

His commentary style was conversational and non-controversial, in contrast with his playing career (when selected for the tour to the Windies in 1980-81 aged 36, the Guyanese Government opposed his involvement due to his links with Apartheid-torn South Africa and revoked his Visa).

Jackman displayed his deep understanding of the game on a regular basis and praised good cricket whole-heartedly. Having been a fast bowler himself, he was known to enlighten the viewer about subtle variations that the pacers bowled and would speak at length about the technique of the batsman and how to plan to dismiss him.

Jackman was diagnosed with Throat Cancer in November 2012. Fortunately, the treatment was successful and he returned to commentary in 2013. However, his appearances in the commentary box have since been sporadic and have now dried up completely.

#3 Tony Greig

Tony Greig in the Media Center at the Melbourne Cricket ground

Anthony William "Tony" Greig was certainly a global Cricketing personality. Born in South Africa to Scottish parents, Grieg represented England during which he had a few run-ins with the Indian and the Windies’ players, settled down in Australia post-retirement and professed his love for Sri Lanka frequently while on air.

After playing a central role in organizing the World Series Cricket (WSC), WSC owner Kerry Packer offered Greig a 'job for life' as a commentator in his other venture, the Nine Network, which had the broadcast rights for Cricket in Australia. Greig would spend the next three decades behind the microphone and become popular for his forthright, clever opinions and profound exuberance.

Indian Cricket fans can never forget how Greig added to the excitement when Sachin Tendulkar singlehandedly demolished the famed Aussie bowling line-up scoring consecutive centuries in two consecutive matches to help India lift the 1997-98 Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah.

Greig was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in October 2012 and died of the disease aged 66 in December of the same year after going into cardiac arrest following a suspected heart attack in Sydney, Australia.

#2 Tony Cozier

Tony Cozier interviewing Sir Clive Lloyd

The only person on this list to not have played first-class Cricket, Winston Anthony Lloyd Cozier covered West Indies Cricket in the capacity of a journalist and Radio and Television commentator for over half a century. Born in Bridgetown, Barbados in a family of journalists, Cozier studied journalism at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

Cozier began his 5-decade long commentary career in the Caribbean in 1965. He also worked with the BBC and Sky Sports in England and with Channel Nine in Australia. Cozier was known for his calm voice and his knowledge of statistics.

He lived through the extreme highs (winning the World Cup twice and going 15 years without losing a Test series) and the lows (being bowled out for 51) of the Windies Cricket team, famously remarked “Where does West Indies cricket go from ’ere?” after the latter incident. He would provide an earnest analysis of every game played in the Caribbean and the state of the Windies Cricket team amongst a host of other topics.

Cozier died from Cancer following a brief illness in May 2016, aged 75. Harsha Bhogle described him the best: He loved the West Indies and loved its cricket. But more than anything else Tony loved our game and enriched it. It was pure.

#1 Richie Benaud

Richie Benaud working for BBC

The ‘Voice of Cricket’, Richie Benaud began his broadcasting career even whilst still being an active international Cricketer when he took up a position as a journalist with the now defunct News of the World newspaper following a Presenter training course organised by the BBC he attended in 1956.

Post his retirement from playing in 1964, he engaged himself as a full-time broadcaster dividing his time working for BBC in Britain and for the Nine Network in Australia. Some of his signature comments like ‘got ‘im!’, ‘that’s stumps’ and ‘marvellous’ have become a part of Cricketing folklore. He was a highly moral and an affable character. Whilst commenting on a Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s, London, England, he vacated the commentary box with the Black Caps on the verge of a series win to allow former Kiwi skipper and fellow commentator Ian Smith to call the victory of his countrymen. He heavily criticised fellow Australians Greg and Trevor Chappell in the aftermath of the underarm bowling incident in 1981. Some of Benaud' brilliant moments in a commentary box included the analysis of fellow Australian leggie Shane Warne. Benaud was on air as Warne delivered the 'Ball of the century' and he, in his charismatic manner, added to the magic of the moment.

Benaud retired from commentary in 2011. In November 2014, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer and died of the disease in his sleep in April of the following year.