Cricket commentaries

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 16

Cricket commentaries

Sir, —Mr Macbeth is quite right to complain about the cliches used so constantly by many of our cricket commentators. They should all be encouraged to listen to the superb Australian and British commentators during the current test series. Unless a marked improvement appears by the end of our season, I recommend that they all be locked up in a small room and made to listen to 80 minutes of Keith Quinn. No pictures al-

lowed and definitely no access to volume control or the on-off switch.—Yours, etc., G. V. ORANGE. December 19, 1978.

Sir, — I write to support your correspondent, N. L. Macbeth by adding that 1 recall the occasions when Smith was out, it was commentated that Smith was on his way. As to whether Smith was en route to the equator or the North Pole was not explained. I also recall commentators saying that Smith had gone. As to whether Smith had gone mad, gone astray, or was dead, still remains a mystery. Another commentator once remarked that the score was three for 186. 1 do not believe that any team has ever possessed 186 cricketers, and even if it did, it is hardly likely that it would score only three runs. While conceding that the elegance of cricket is not what it was there is surely no need for our commentators to accelerate the decline. — Yours, etc., LESLIE C. WOOLLONS. December 19, 1978.