A Sad Week For Cricket Lovers.

[7by7]

Maybe better in the news forum, but as I can't start topics there.........

First we had the news of Tony Grieg's passing from a heart attack on Saturday, then today we hear that Christopher Martin-Jenkins has died of cancer.

Tony Greig, ex-England captain, dies aged 66 after heart attack

Christopher Martin-Jenkins, TMS commentator, dies aged 67

Two very different characters but both, in their own way, great servants of the game.

Both will be sadly missed.

R.I.P. Tony; R.I.P. CMJ.

[David48]

Sad that any greats of the game pass ... however, having been subjected to Tony Greg's cricket commentary ... it's a voice and an opinion I will not miss.

Bring on the Poms and the Summer Ashes ...

Win, lose or draw ... always the series with the most interest for me.

.

[phutoie2]

Sad that any greats of the game pass ... however, having been subjected to Tony Greg's cricket commentary ... it's a voice and an opinion I will not miss.

Bring on the Poms and the Summer Ashes ...

Win, lose or draw ... always the series with the most interest for me.

.

Maybe, but at least TG was impartial, unlike the rest of the home side boot lickers union in the Ch 9 commentary box.

Do'nt worry too much about the Ashes, we Poms are busy doctoring the wickets throughtout this winter.

[carmine]

Sad that any greats of the game pass ... however, having been subjected to Tony Greg's cricket commentary ... it's a voice and an opinion I will not miss.

Bring on the Poms and the Summer Ashes ...

Win, lose or draw ... always the series with the most interest for me.

.

If thats all you have to say about the late Tony Greig better to have put a sock in it. What, is an honest impartial opinion too much for an australian to take?

[7by7]

As Greig spent most of his commentary life on Australian TV, not UK, I had little experience of his commentary style; except when England were playing in Australia.

I remember him more as a player.

Although pilloried at the time in many circles for his part in World Series Cricket; it must be remembered that without this and the money it brought into the game the conditions and pay of cricketers, at least at international level, would not be as good today as they are.

Perhaps Aggers sums him up best here

someone you would run through a brick wall for, because you knew he would do the same for you.

[BookMan]

Sad that any greats of the game pass ... however, having been subjected to Tony Greg's cricket commentary ... it's a voice and an opinion I will not miss.

Bring on the Poms and the Summer Ashes ...

Win, lose or draw ... always the series with the most interest for me.

.

Maybe, but at least TG was impartial, unlike the rest of the home side boot lickers union in the Ch 9 commentary box.

Do'nt worry too much about the Ashes, we Poms are busy doctoring the wickets throughtout this winter.

TG impartial?? You hear him when South Africa or England were playing?

He was one of the best players in his day by all accounts, but I only know him through World Series Cricket where i watched him play as a youngster.

The recent TV Mini Series about Kerry Packer and the WSC featured quite a bit about Greig, and is worth a watch.

My Aunty gave me a xmas present one year of a Tony Grieg WSC T Shirt. Full colour pic of Tony on the front. Worst present ever

[Will27]

I'm with 7by7 on this one, very sad.

I liked the banter between Greigy and the other commentators,

especially with Bill Lawry.

He was like a breath of fresh air in the box. Will be a lot worse of

without the big fella.

I think the standard of commentators now is pretty much awful.

Channel 9 just seem to sign up ex-players whether or not they're

any good at the caper.

Personally, I think Healy, Taylor and Slater are shocking.

Give me Gower, Holding and Ritchie anyday.

Regards

Will

[David48]

So ... some nice waxed lyrical about the recently departed and acknowledged world class batsman ... Tony Greig

There has never been another cricketing story like Tony Greig’s and there never will.

The son of a Scottish migrant was a South African-born, England-finessed, Australian-residing citizen of the world, a Test captain who loved stirring the pot, a revolutionary who fought the establishment, losing some battles but spectacularly winning others.

...

As a player he carried himself like a man who had the key to every lock; his body language radiated the vibe “just watch this’’ and he often got wickets through the force of his personality.

Here

Not my words ...

[David48]

I always read with interest carmine's insightful comments ...

If thats all you have to say about the late Tony Greig better to have put a sock in it. What, is an honest impartial opinion too much for an australian to take?

I watched the game when he (Tony Greig) commented ...

Greig’s racism also came out in 1999, as the SMH

reported

:

“Greig uttered, 'Do you think she has been flown in' -- a mail-order bride reference -- when cameras panned to a wedding reception behind North Sydney Oval that involved a caucasian man and Asian woman.”

The woman who Greig implied was a mail order bride, Marlene Cases said: “What is disturbing is that there are people out there who refer to Asian women as mail-order-brides if their partners are Australian. A lot of Asian women are here in Australia because of skills not because they got married to an Australian.”

Cases had been living in Australia for nine years before she got married. She demanded a public apology from Greig. She never got one. She only got a phone call from someone speaking on behalf of Greig.

After this comment he wasn't heard about for a while on the TV and, at the time, I thought he was sacked.

But, presumably, because of his role in formulating 'World Series Cricket' ... it was a 'job for life' and he just had to sit on the side lines for a while ...

Never liked the man from his commentry ... I don't remember much of him as a player ... though, I have to acknowledge his ability because it was been so widly referenced by the cricketing community.

On a different note ... maybe 7x7 has some positive stories abot Christopher Martin-Jenkins ... I never knew him.

.

[Will27]

I always read with interest carmine's insightful comments ...

If thats all you have to say about the late Tony Greig better to have put a sock in it. What, is an honest impartial opinion too much for an australian to take?

I watched the game when he (Tony Greig) commented ...

Greig’s racism also came out in 1999, as the SMH

reported

:

“Greig uttered, 'Do you think she has been flown in' -- a mail-order bride reference -- when cameras panned to a wedding reception behind North Sydney Oval that involved a caucasian man and Asian woman.”

The woman who Greig implied was a mail order bride, Marlene Cases said: “What is disturbing is that there are people out there who refer to Asian women as mail-order-brides if their partners are Australian. A lot of Asian women are here in Australia because of skills not because they got married to an Australian.”

Cases had been living in Australia for nine years before she got married. She demanded a public apology from Greig. She never got one. She only got a phone call from someone speaking on behalf of Greig.

After this comment he wasn't heard about for a while on the TV and, at the time, I thought he was sacked.

But, presumably, because of his role in formulating 'World Series Cricket' ... it was a 'job for life' and he just had to sit on the side lines for a while ...

Never liked the man from his commentry ... I don't remember much of him as a player ... though, I have to acknowledge his ability because it was been so widly referenced by the cricketing community.

On a different note ... maybe 7x7 has some positive stories abot Christopher Martin-Jenkins ... I never knew him.

.

Let's not get too precious David48.

Ok, so he made an off the cuff insensitive comment, but surely it wasn't a " sackable offence".

I for one, will mis the big fella.

Regards

Will

Edited January 3, 2013 by Will27

[Will27]

Sad that any greats of the game pass ... however, having been subjected to Tony Greg's cricket commentary ... it's a voice and an opinion I will not miss.

Bring on the Poms and the Summer Ashes ...

Win, lose or draw ... always the series with the most interest for me.

.

Maybe, but at least TG was impartial, unlike the rest of the home side boot lickers union in the Ch 9 commentary box.

Do'nt worry too much about the Ashes, we Poms are busy doctoring the wickets throughtout this winter.

TG impartial?? You hear him when South Africa or England were playing?

He was one of the best players in his day by all accounts, but I only know him through World Series Cricket where i watched him play as a youngster.

The recent TV Mini Series about Kerry Packer and the WSC featured quite a bit about Greig, and is worth a watch.

My Aunty gave me a xmas present one year of a Tony Grieg WSC T Shirt. Full colour pic of Tony on the front. Worst present ever

Inpartial.........

A comment just made by Michael Holding about TG

"He took on the Australian commentators when he worked with Channel 9.

He always tried to add balance to the commentary when the Australians were blatantly taking sides

. With the exception of Ian Chappell and Richie Benaud, the Aussies were the cheerleaders of Channel 9.

Tony was different, providing unbiasedaudio output."

Next we'll be hearing how inpartial Healy, Slater and the rest are.....please.

Regards

Will

[BookMan]

Sad that any greats of the game pass ... however, having been subjected to Tony Greg's cricket commentary ... it's a voice and an opinion I will not miss.

Bring on the Poms and the Summer Ashes ...

Win, lose or draw ... always the series with the most interest for me.

.

Maybe, but at least TG was impartial, unlike the rest of the home side boot lickers union in the Ch 9 commentary box.

Do'nt worry too much about the Ashes, we Poms are busy doctoring the wickets throughtout this winter.

TG impartial?? You hear him when South Africa or England were playing?

He was one of the best players in his day by all accounts, but I only know him through World Series Cricket where i watched him play as a youngster.

The recent TV Mini Series about Kerry Packer and the WSC featured quite a bit about Greig, and is worth a watch.

My Aunty gave me a xmas present one year of a Tony Grieg WSC T Shirt. Full colour pic of Tony on the front. Worst present ever

Inpartial.........

A comment just made by Michael Holding about TG

"He took on the Australian commentators when he worked with Channel 9.

He always tried to add balance to the commentary when the Australians were blatantly taking sides

. With the exception of Ian Chappell and Richie Benaud, the Aussies were the cheerleaders of Channel 9.

Tony was different, providing unbiasedaudio output."

Next we'll be hearing how inpartial Healy, Slater and the rest are.....please.

Regards

Will

What are you on about?

I was saying that TG was not impartial when England or South Africa were playing Australia. Or in other words he favoured England or South Africa. His comments and tone were glee filled when England was hammering Australia. Admittedly that didn't happen too often for him

[carmine]

Too true bookman, he should have been born in this generation to see England frequently hammer the "graceless in defeat" aussies.

[BookMan]

Too true bookman, he should have been born in this generation to see England frequently hammer the "graceless in defeat" aussies.

No one likes to lose Carmine, least not the Australians. However I don't think they have a monopoly on any good or bad sportsmanship these days.

Good to see Pietersen back in the team. Like Tony G he shares a foreign country as his birthplace and growing up. England searches the world for the best!

Sure hope he can avoid texting the opposition during a game this time. Great sports these English chaps!

[carmine]

Too true bookman, he should have been born in this generation to see England frequently hammer the "graceless in defeat" aussies.

No one likes to lose Carmine, least not the Australians. However I don't think they have a monopoly on any good or bad sportsmanship these days.

Good to see Pietersen back in the team. Like Tony G he shares a foreign country as his birthplace and growing up. England searches the world for the best!

Sure hope he can avoid texting the opposition during a game this time. Great sports these English chaps!

So basically you seem to be agreeing that in cricketing terms you lot are our bitches

[Old Croc]

Too true bookman, he should have been born in this generation to see England frequently hammer the "graceless in defeat" aussies.

No one likes to lose Carmine, least not the Australians. However I don't think they have a monopoly on any good or bad sportsmanship these days.

Good to see Pietersen back in the team. Like Tony G he shares a foreign country as his birthplace and growing up. England searches the world for the best!

Sure hope he can avoid texting the opposition during a game this time. Great sports these English chaps!

So basically you seem to be agreeing that in cricketing terms you lot are our bitches

Picking up where you left off with the Olympics, Carmine? I see you even reused my "graceless" comment about England in bashing Australians here.

On subject, I watched TG closely through the years, from English Captain (Having his sandshoes crushed by Thommo and Hooks hitting 5 fours from him in a row stood out!), through his time in the World Series (where he dumped his adopted country for the big bucks, and introduced the first helmet to cricket (looked like a Thai homemade bike helmet )) and onto his commentry days (the car key in the pitch!).

I considered him biased (like a NZer he followed anyone else who was playing Australia), but IMO was a better and more interesting commentator than most of the ex Aussie player, dicks in the booth with him.

Cricket is hard to find on TV in Thailand and when I managed to get some coverage of a sub continent game a few months ago I was pleasantly surprised to find him there doing the commentary.

He was a character who provided me with much entertainment over several decades and I'm sorry to see him go so early.

RIP.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Old Croc

[BookMan]

Too true bookman, he should have been born in this generation to see England frequently hammer the "graceless in defeat" aussies.

No one likes to lose Carmine, least not the Australians. However I don't think they have a monopoly on any good or bad sportsmanship these days.

Good to see Pietersen back in the team. Like Tony G he shares a foreign country as his birthplace and growing up. England searches the world for the best!

Sure hope he can avoid texting the opposition during a game this time. Great sports these English chaps!

So basically you seem to be agreeing that in cricketing terms you lot are our bitches

Hardly . I would say entirely the opposite.

Australia only sends England the players that aren't good enough for the National team here. The English cricket team has a a history of grabbing onto any able body that is willing...'able' often optional

[BookMan]

...Picking up where you left off with the Olympics, Carmine? I see you even reused my "graceless" comment about England in bashing Australians here....

I am not surprised. Look at the English team some years ago. They reused all the Australian tactics (including hiring Aussie bowling coaches) to get back into the winning circle. Nothing new there.

[carmine]

...Picking up where you left off with the Olympics, Carmine? I see you even reused my "graceless" comment about England in bashing Australians here....

I am not surprised. Look at the English team some years ago. They reused all the Australian tactics (including hiring Aussie bowling coaches) to get back into the winning circle. Nothing new there.

You aussies are such a delicate sensitive lot. tbh i really can't see your pub team (Clarke excluded ofcourse ) doing much better in the next ashes series either.

I'm beginning to understand how you felt when we were so poor. Everyone wants to see a keenly contested series

[BookMan]

You aussies are such a delicate sensitive lot. tbh i really can't see your pub team (Clarke excluded ofcourse ) doing much better in the next ashes series either.

I'm beginning to understand how you felt when we were so poor. Everyone wants to see a keenly contested series

You aussies are such a delicate sensitive lot.

I agree, there are some inherited British traits that are hard to shake.

Haven't seen any of it in this thread though

tbh i really can't see your pub team (Clarke excluded ofcourse ) doing much better in the next ashes series either.

I'm beginning to understand how you felt when we were so poor. Everyone wants to see a keenly contested series

This is looking a bit like a B side Australian team. Exceptions being Warner, Clarke and Johnson. They will be playing England of course, so any capitulation could be expected nevertheless

[7by7]

his time in the World Series (where he dumped his adopted country for the big bucks, and introduced the first helmet to cricket (looked like a Thai homemade bike helmet ))

All the players in WSC dumped their countries for the big bucks.

It was Mike Brearley who first wore a type of helmet in cricket, although it was more a skull cap with side protection worn under his normal cap.

Although the first recorded batsman to wear some form of head protection was Patsy Hendren in the 1930s.

Graham Yallop was the first to wear an actual protective helmet in a Test.

Greig was actually against them at first, as he thought wearing one would encourage fast bowlers to bounce batsmen continuously.

[7by7]

On a different note ... maybe 7x7 has some positive stories abot Christopher Martin-Jenkins ... I never knew him.

Unless you were/are a regular TMS listener or reader of any of the papers he wrote for during his career, then I suppose it is natural that you have not heard of him.

But for TMS listeners, not just in the UK but via the BBC World Service and these days over the internet, he will always, like Brian Johnston and John Arlott, be remembered with great affection.

Christopher Martin-Jenkins - Test Match Special pays tribute

[Old Croc]

his time in the World Series (where he dumped his adopted country for the big bucks, and introduced the first helmet to cricket (looked like a Thai homemade bike helmet ))

All the players in WSC dumped their countries for the big bucks.

It was Mike Brearley who first wore a type of helmet in cricket, although it was more a skull cap with side protection worn under his normal cap.

Although the first recorded batsman to wear some form of head protection was Patsy Hendren in the 1930s.

Graham Yallop was the first to wear an actual protective helmet in a Test.

Greig was actually against them at first, as he thought wearing one would encourage fast bowlers to bounce batsmen continuously.

I actually meant to say he dumped the captaincy of his adopted country and became Packer's main recruitor for the WSC. My bad.

I thought someone would disagree about helmets. I suppose I should've googled first as well.

I do remember Yallop wearing a helmet when he played with a broken jaw. From memory it was a soft bicycle type helmet.

But, what does stand out for me, is the silly helmets from the WSC that started the trend for all batsmen to use them as a normal part of the equipment.

[BookMan]

The motorcyle helmet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoVjjiKXBy4

[7by7]

Classic CMJ moment; TMS box in hysterics after CMJ's comment about the batsman's rod.

See also A doyen of cricket with a comic touch

Edited January 6, 2013 by 7by7

[Will27]

Classic CMJ moment; TMS box in hysterics after CMJ's comment about the batsman's rod.

See also A doyen of cricket with a comic touch

That is gold mate.

Thanks for the morning cack.

Regards

Will