I have been handed the new ball and asked to bowl the opening spell in this book of Cricket Commentary and Commentators. It was always my ambition to play Test cricket for India, but I was allergic to grass. A pity because I would have been the silliest mid-on to have played Test cricket. My long leg would have been a sensation. There have never been swingers to match mine. I used to be such an agile fielder that a piece of music ‘Third Man Theme’ was composed as a tribute On the serious side, as a commentator, I was always fascinated by how cricket commentary began. While the journey of cricket commentary is fairly well-recorded in Australia and England, the information on the subject in other eight Test playing countries is scanty. This book – Cricket Commentary & Commentators – is a humble attempt to weave together threads scattered in different areas and diverse directions. The scope of the book has been enlarged to include not just commentators but even anchors, presenters, scorers and statisticians while making it a compendium on commentary. With these opening remarks, I urge you, the reader, to move forward.

2021 marks the 100th anniversary of sports commentary. Award-winning commentator Michael Schiavello examines the greatest sports commentators in history, the best calls ever heard, and offers stories from his own journey through the sports broadcasting world. The Commentators reviews of more than 60 of the best moments in sports history and examines some of the finest plays and commentary calls across 20 different sports including soccer, American football, golf, boxing, Formula One, horse racing, ice hockey, athletics, tennis, baseball, cricket, professional wrestling, darts, rugby, cycling, and more--plus the biggest sports events, including Olympics (summer and winter), FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, World Series, and Rugby World Cup. A powerful story unfolding during a sports event can inspire us about a sport we've never watched, an athlete we haven't heard of, or a country we've never visited or even located on a map. Stories engross an audience and engage them on an emotional level. Once a commentator captures an audience's emotions, they're putty in his hands. The power of sports lies within those individuals and the ability of the commentator to tell those stories.

A memoir like no other, from a cricketing expert known for speaking his mind This book is about me, my cricket career, my life. My strengths and weaknesses, my successes and failures. Every individual lives a uniquely different life. Life stories are always interesting. No one leads an uneventful life. Having been a sportsman, I also want young, aspiring sportsmen to learn from my career. Like a father once said to his son: 'I made twenty mistakes in my life, you'll make twenty new ones.' In Imperfect, Sanjay Manjrekar uses his famous analytical powers to look back on his own career as a cricketer. His photographic memory takes the reader along on his journey from the dusty maidans of Mumbai to the world stage as the combative batsman faces up to the fearsome West Indian and Pakistani pace attacks. In his precise plainspeak, Sanjay reflects on his father Vijay Manjrekar and the effects of his personality on his game. He comments on the complex equations with the India greats with whom he shared the dressing room, and on the lessons learnt from his opponents. He also reveals his own excruciating obsession with batting technique, the quest for perfection, and the battle to shake off his mental shackles. Imperfect sets a new standard for cricket writing in India, with significant life lessons even for those who aren't cricket fans.

'What seeps through the pages is Benaud's passion for the game, his open-mindedness and his eye for a story. He has become a cricket institution' The Sunday Times 'His timing is magical, his phrasing simple and his choice of what and when, quite brilliant ... his heart beats upon our summer game and frequently acts as its conscience' Daily Telegraph 'It's his insight, loyalty, generosity and quick wit that has kept him at the very top' The Sun * * * * * * A Sunday Times top ten hardback bestseller, this is a hugely enjoyable celebration of the game of cricket, written by its most popular TV commentator. My Spin on Cricket tells the story of the great game through the ages, through personal anecdotes and a lively, well informed narrative by Richie Benaud, the popular cricket commentator and former Australian cricket captain. Hailed as one of the most influential cricketer and cricket personalities of the last fifty years, he was the runaway winner in The Wisden Cricketer's commentators' poll of 2005. With the emphasis on the modern game, Richie puts current events under the spotlight and relates them to the past. He discusses all aspects of the game, including gambling, sledging, leadership and technological development in this entertaining and highly informative book.

For over a decade, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has captivated the world of cricket and over a billion Indians with his incredible ingenuity as captain, wicketkeeper and batsman. Bharat Sundaresan tracks down the cricketer's closest friends in Ranchi and artfully presents the different shades of Dhoni-the Ranchi boy, the fauji, the diplomat, Chennai's beloved Thala, the wicketkeeping Pythagoras-and lays bare the man underneath. He discovers a certain je ne sais quoi about the man who has a magical ability to transform and elevate everything which comes into his orbit-the Dhoni Touch. Funny, candid, and peppered with delicious anecdotes, The Dhoni Touch reveals an ordinary man living an extraordinary life.

Perfect for fans and scholars alike, this Companion explores cricket's origins, global reach, iconic personalities and enduring popularity.

The Winning Way: Learnings From Sport for Managers is a guidebook that pinpoints factors that lead to success. Harsha and Anita Bhogle list out these factors that ensure proven and consistent results even when the level of competition surges. The book makes for an interesting read because these concepts are explained from a sports perspective. They explore and unpeel the mantra behind victorious teams and sporting legends. If you have ever been stumped by the stupendous success of great sportsmen who deliver every single time, The Winning Way: Learning From Sport for Managers spells out the formula. This book comes as a fresh take on leadership from a unique point of view. Harsha and Anita Bhogle take readers through many interesting points, thanks to their wide experience in management and their tryst with sports as well.

Former Test bowler, ABC Radio cricket commentator, funny man, raconteur and all-round sporting tragic Kerry O'Keeffe recalls some of the most hilarious and poignant events from his life - in sport and away from it. Former test bowler, ABC Radio cricket commentator, funny man, raconteur and all-round sporting tragic Kerry O'Keeffe recalls some of the most hilarious and poignant events from his life - in sport and away from it.From the racetrack at Fanny Bay in Darwin and catching up with mates for legendary lunches to leading a tour party through the highs and lows of the 2004 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and backyard cricket tests with his surfing champion son, the author of the bestselling ACCORDING tO SKULL relates the agony and the ecstasy of a life lived through sport. With more humour than your usual stand-up comic and more sharp-eyed opinion about the state of cricket than you average commentator, Kerry O'Keeffe has written another winner for all lovers of the game and punters who love a laugh.

Jackers: A Life in Cricket is the autobiography of former Surrey and England cricketer Robin Jackman--now a highly-regarded international cricket commentator, working on South African television. His life in cricket makes for a fascinating story as Jackman has encountered virtually all the cricketing greats of the modern era--many of whom he played with or against. Ian Botham, Viv Richards and Mike Procter are just three of the star names who feature in the book. His first-class career spanned 17 years, during which time he took more than 1,800 wickets, being named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1981. Jackman's international debut came late, at 35, when his controversial deportation from Guyana set the whole series in jeopardy. Now admired for his expert analysis, his deep knowledge of the game and his sense of humour, all these qualities shine through in Jackman's highly entertaining autobiography.

From classic catches to backyard matches, this is a joyful and heartfelt celebration of all things cricket, written by a much-loved ABC sports broadcaster. Cricket, I just love it! It really is the best. Batting, bowling, fielding, Twenty20 or a test. I watch it or I listen and of course I always play. Cricket is my favourite part of every single day. For any kid who's ever hit a six over the back fence or dreamed of making a century at the MCG, here is a love song to Australia's most iconic summer sport.