CMJ RIP

Another terrible loss for the Press Box.

Christopher Martin-Jenkins was a massive inspiration to those of us who worked on the JM96*. Although we were the snotty-nosed speed snorting younger cousins of the TMS team, we still held the words of Messrs Blofeld, Johnston, Arlott & CMJ in the highest esteem. They were never the enemy, they were true believers - just like us!

They were schoolboy cricketers whose enthusiasm for the game challenged those on the pitch and even sometimes those in authority to take the game we love more seriously. The reason CMJ and his ilk were admired was that they were untarnished by on-field exploits and the monotonous belief that "cricket were much tougher in our day" (courtesy Mr FS Trueman, Sir Geoffrey etc).

CMJ was respected simply because he had not played the game at first class level, his words held weight because he had not played in the same team as Brian Close and his opinion was justified in most cases simply because he didn't have to justify his own statistics. Therefore despite his double-barrelled, St Bedes and Marlborough educated, slightly antiquated world view, his vision for the game was as valid as ours and therefore if he had ever ventured into the The Old Coffee House on Beak Street to one of our impromptu editorial meetings he could have held court as an equal and not an ex-pro with a Slazenger sponsored axe to grind.

And that is what makes his death such shame. The game of cricket, the press box and our lives will be all the more empty for his passing.

 Christopher Dennis Alexander Martin-Jenkins, broadcaster and journalist, born 20 January 1945; died 1 January 2013

Tony Greig - Part 3

As the numerous tributes to Greigy pour in from around the world, the one word they all have in common is 'charisma'. How true! With the exception of a certain Sir Ian Terence Botham I can't think of another England player who has so inspired and led by example.

Whether he was captaining Sussex or England all eyes fell on Tony Greig. He was simply a man amongst men. I remember seeing him play at the Saffrons one cricket week and all us boys spent the whole morning session with our backs to the game, just watching Greigy sitting on the balcony with his St Peter bat (and flat batting gloves) propped up against the old Saffs pavilion's wooden balcony. We almost cheered when the third Sussex wicket fell, just because it meant that the skipper was coming in to bat. And he didn't let us down. His high backlift, thumping great checked drive, all topped off with his raised collar and Sussex cap. He looked the absolute bees-knees!

Fortunately being on the ground staff that week, we also got to bowl in the nets. (I had already taken  great pleasure in getting David Steele out 3 balls in a row!) We had of course hoped to bowl to Tony but after a couple of loose ones down the leg side, he'd seen enough. However, the thrill of saying I've bowled at Tony Greig lives with me to this day. Alongside facing John Snow in a proper match, it is still right up there as a cricketing memory.

Tony Greig always took the role model aspect of his captaincy very seriously and I can still recall him asking me in his thick accent if I was "reading and absorbing" the contents of his latest book. I don't know about "reading and absorbing", more like breathing, inhaling and swallowing down every single morsel of knowledge his book imparted. A number of his tactical ideas have stayed with me to this very day and I always reckon the fact that I was a surprisingly successful schoolboy and club captain (better skipper than a player actually) was solely due to the brilliant cricketing education I got from his books and watching him in action.

My final memory of Tony Greig is of meeting him again, some three years ago at the annual Bradman Dinner at the SCG in Sydney. A little worse for wear, I managed to persuade myself that I really ought to go and thank Tony for the wonderful contribution he made to my (cricketing) life. Normally, the next morning, I would have kicked myself for having interrupted Greigy at his table and blurted out Chardonnay inspired words of thanks. However, whilst obviously very bemused by the gibbering idiot in front of him. He took my intrusion with good grace and I managed to thank him as a Sussex man and England fan for all the enjoyment he had given over the years. And I comforted myself that murky hungover morning that I had done the right thing, because I felt that you never know what my happen to someone/or to you before you get a chance to thank them again.

Given the very sad news this week, that thought came back to me once more with great alacrity and I am so grateful that I got to shake the hand and thank the man who did more to install a lifetime love and passion for the wonderful game of cricket than any other person.

The magnificent Tony Greig (Sussex & England) R.I.P.



Andy Franks
Hong Kong 1/1/2013

Tony Greig - Part 2

A "take-no-prisoners attitude" allied with flair was one of the many tributes paid to the former England cricket captain Tony Greig, who has died at the age of 66. Greig, who was admired for his skills as a player, commentator and innovator, suffered a heart attack at his Sydney home in the early hours of Saturday morning, having fought lung cancer for more than two months.

Born in Queenstown, South Africa, he captained Sussex and earned 58 Test caps for England, 14 as captain. Renowned as a tenacious all-rounder, in his latter years he became known for his enthusiasm and wilfully provocative style in the commentary box, where he served in England and Australia.

Greig's controversial leading role in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket ultimately led to his playing career winding down. Dennis Lillee, who along with Greig was one of the main players in the evolution of WSC, said: "He had a take-no-prisoners attitude which helped him lead England with flair and toughness." Richie Benaud echoed that sentiment, saying: "Everything he did was strong. It might not go right but it was strong."

Sir Ian Botham said Greig was a "flamboyant and extrovert" figure who "changed cricket for everybody as we know it now. He revolutionised the game. The players of today have a lot to be thankful for in Tony and Kerry Packer."

Bob Willis, another former England team-mate, was a dissenter against WSC but admitted it ultimately benefited the sport. "It was a torrid time back in 1977. People took very entrenched positions and it wasn't very pleasant being a Packer player in county cricket but I think some of us realised our mistakes. Tony had a tremendous effect on my career. He persuaded me to get really fit and that totally revolutionised my career. I never had another injury and went on to take over 300 Test wickets. It's a very sad day for cricket. Sixty-six is no sort of innings."

Nasser Hussain praised Greig, "a dramatic sort of guy with the blond locks and his collar up", for revolutionising cricket, while the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Giles Clarke, described him as "magnificent and fearless".

Geoff Boycott had offered him advice about combating cancer. "Tony was mentally ready to tackle the disease and prepared for his chemotherapy in the new year. His death is a huge shock."

Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, the Australia coach Mickey Arthur and the Test captain Michael Clarke added their tributes, while Australia's prime minister, Julia Gillard, said the country had lost "one of sport's iconic voices".

- The Guardian