As I write this, I am enjoying the Ashes radio commentary by Jonathan Agnew on the internet.
Agnew says Henry Blofeld will be coming in in a few minutes… wow…
… Absolute bliss… Blofeld is on air…. Australia has reached 400 for 4…
… Blogging can wait… let me just listen to Blofeld… and Geoff Boycott has now joined him…
….. ….. ….
“Don’t miss a ball, we broadcast them all”
Cricket was my passion when I was in school and in college. Apart from playing, umpiring and coaching, like any cricket buff I was constantly hooked on to commentary on radio. Even with all their drawbacks, the Indian cricket commentators were a pleasure to listen to. But BBC’s radio commentators were and still are a class apart, a fact even our Indian commentators would acknowledge.

In May 1957, the first day of the Test between England and West Indies at Edgbaston is broadcast in its entirety with Rex Alston, John Arlott, EW Swanton and Ken Ablack at the mic. (For credit click on photo)
It’s such a pleasure listening to the celebrated Test Match Special team of commentators. The team has over the years developed a unique style. Commentating is not just about telling what’s happening on the field, it’s also about history, anecdotes, jokes and banter. It’s this fantastic mixture combined with the commentators’ excellent voice, articulation and diction that have made TMS such an acclaimed programme.

Henry Blofeld
In 1957, with the birth of TMS, the BBC became the first broadcaster in the world to cover every ball of a Test match. The celebrated slogan then was: “Don’t miss a ball, we broadcast them all.”

Christopher Martin-Jenkins
Many celebrated broadcasters have graced TMS. I have read about John Arlott and E W Swanton. I haven’t heard them except on archival recordings. By the time I got listening to TMS, it was Brian Johnston, Tony Cozier, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Henry Blofeld and Don Mosey.
My favourite is Blofeld. His voice is so captivating and gripping. He became famous in India during the 1990s when, while commentating, he used to make humorous remarks about ear-rings worn by women spectators. That was when he left BBC to work with Sky. He returned to BBC soon after to the delight of many of his fans.
Johnston-Agnew leg over giggle

Brian Johnston
The other commentator I liked was the late, Brian Johnston. His sense of humour was unmatched, a lot of them are chronicled in his book “Rain Stops Play”. He became famous in 1991 for the “leg over” laughter.
In August 1991, England were playing the Windies at Oval. The commentators were Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew, when Ian Botham got out losing balance while trying the play the hook shot and falling over his wicket. Agnew remarked that Botham “couldn’t quite get his leg over”. Johnston carried on talking but soon he couldn’t get over his laughter. The humour behind Agnew’s remark is: in English slang “getting one’s leg over” means having sex. And during that time there were plenty of news reports of Botham’s ‘colourful’ off-court goings-on.
It is said that both Johnston and Agnew were quite upset with themselves for having got carried away with the joke. But it later emerged Agnew’s remark and Johnston’s hysterical laughter had become a bit hit among the listeners.
Listen to an mp3 clipping of the “leg over” commentary. Agnew’s remark comes 10 seconds into the clipping.
In August 1991, England were playing the Windies at Oval. The commentators were Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew, when Ian Botham got out falling over his wicket after losing balance while trying the play the hook shot. He couldn’t lift his leg enough, and his inner thigh dislodged the bails. He was out: hit wicket.
Agnew remarked that Botham “just couldn’t quite get his leg over”. Johnston carried on talking but soon he couldn’t get over his laughter. The humour behind Agnew’s remark is: in English slang “getting one’s leg over” means having sex. And around that time there were plenty of news reports of Botham’s ‘colourful’ off-court activities.

Ian Botham loses balance and falls over the wicket -- the provocation for the famous "leg over" remark by Agnew and the more famous uncontrollable laughter by Johnston.
It is said that both Johnston and Agnew were quite upset with themselves for having got carried away with the joke. But it later emerged that Agnew’s remark and Johnston’s hysterical laughter had become a bit hit among the listeners.
Listen to audio clipping of the “leg over” commentary. Agnew’s remark comes around 10 seconds into the clipping.
When I missed TMS
During the 1990s, BBC went through acute financial problems and TMS was among the services affected as the broadcaster tried to cut expenses. Broadcast on the shortwave radio was erratic and I didn’t know what was happening to my favorite TMS and its commentators.
Adding to this was the invasion of the airwaves by the mobile phones. Radio reception progressively became feeble and it was difficult to tune in to the BBC, or any other station, without disturbance. I began missing my TMS.
BBC radio on internet
Over the past few years, radio has become available on the internet. BBC is perhaps one broadcaster which has made available such a wide variety of programmes on the internet. I have given some links at the end. Many months back, I checked out TMS on the internet, but to my great disappointment it wasn’t available.

The team of commentators on BBC's Test Match Special has been regaling millions of cricket fans around the world since 1957. Now the radio commentary is available on the internet.
And today, as I switched on my PC, as usual I logged on to BBC radio, and checked out if TMS was available. I couldn’t believe when saw the link for the live commentary of the Ashes on BBC Live 5. My worry was if it was available only the UK, like the live video. No, it wasn’t… the BBC iplayer console opened, and streaming began… Jonathan Agnew, Henry Blofled, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Goeff Boycott… all are back…
Thanks to technology, I am able to listen to this wonderful institution. I hope it gets better and better with time…
Some useful links for those who are interested:
— BBC Radio
— BBC Test Match Special
— Archive of BBC TMS Ashes commentary excerpts from 1938
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