10 weeks of TMS broadcasts from the Ageas Bowl & Old Trafford on men’s cricket
The domestic men’s international cricket series ended on Wednesday evening with Australia victorious 2-1 in a hard fought 50 over series against England. Women’s internationals the conclusion to the men’s T20 and County Bob Willis Trophy will keep the season going into early October this year.
It does however conclude 10 weeks of bubble broadcasting from Test Match Special from the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford.
Of course the ECB, players, umpires and other officials, ground staff etc worked hard in tough conditions to bring cricket that seemed unlikely at best in April and May.
But Test Match Special played a role too.
Boycott free this summer thanks to COVID-19 issues there was a more diverse range of commentators but anchored as ever (except obviously for the T20s) by Jonathan Agnew. He remains a measured broadcasting presence in troubled times which is more than can be said for his occasionally heard ukulele playing.
Of course the bubble existence made for a rather different TMS. No crowds to describe, no View from the Boundary and definitely no visitors to the box. It made perhaps for a more inward looking TMS but in 2020 of all years it was one of the sounds of a British summer that was still reassuringly there.
Let’s hope the new BBC Director General Tim Davie fully recognises the role TMS plays in national life and notwithstanding his views on social media ensures a twitter presence if not for Jonathan Agnew at least for his ukulele.
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