In this quiz, you have to answer ten questions on cricket commentators.
For the Charles Bannerman Benefit Match of 1922, the New South Wales Cricket Association gave Len Watt, a grade cricketer and reporter, a microphone and asked him to “go on talking” about the game. Watt is usually acknowledged as the first cricket commentator.
Cricket commentary became popular in Australia in the 1920s. The BBC followed suit in 1927, for New Zealand’s tour game against Essex at Leyton. Frank Gillingham, still an active cricketer at 51, was their first commentator. As the concept caught on, the BBC broadcast England’s 1938/39 tour of South Africa in both nations.
In the 1950s, cricket commentary expanded beyond English when All India Radio broadcast live cricket Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali (Marathi did not work out).
Like other sports, cricket has had its share of commentators who stood the test of time, though not necessarily for the right reasons. Take our quiz to find out how well you know them.
