Will we ever see Cricket on the BBC again?
It’s looking less and less likely. The BBC today announced plans to phase out 48-year old Grandstand the staple of any sporting enthusiasts television diet. Having covered epic sporting encounters such as the 1966 World Cup final, the BBC is where I first started watching cricket - when there was actually test coverage on the BBC.
In those days, the England team was made up of Graham Gooch, Allan Lamb, Mike Gatting and David Gower. We had fast bowlers like Derek Pringle and Neil Foster. The Australian side was as good (if not better) than it is today, with the likes of Allan Border, Ian Healy, David Boon, Steve Waugh and Merv Hughes dominating. The West Indies were actually a side worth playing - Malcolm Marshall, Patrick Patterson, Gordon Greenidge and Vic Richards. Being young, 5 day test matches seemed like they lasted 3 weeks. My brother and I would have the television as close to the garden as possible with the sound turned up - we’d be in the garden playing cricket and listening out for the action on the television. At the fall of a wicket, we’d drop everything to rush inside and see the replay. [Sticks for wickets, tennis balls with holes in, the old conifer at extra cover. Jumpers for goalposts. Them were the days. OK, Grandad, enough.]
This latest move is a strong signal - the BBC is losing its grip. They claim they’re still interested in Sport, but they simply can’t compete with Sky anymore. Their coverage of the 888.com Snooker World Championships has been exemplary, as usual. But the promising looking link on the BBC Sport Cricket homepage “Live Cricket on the BBC” leaves a little to be desired. Test match special is one thing (an institution in itself) and for those who have access to a radio whilst games are on are in for an aural treat, but I for one want to watch the cricket. I sold myself to the devil and currently enjoy Sky.
When the BBC realise that not everyone in England enjoys football and there are burgeoning number of people who want to watch the cricket, the sooner they’ll show evidence that they actually understand that making changes is good, but making the rights changes is better.
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POSTED IN: Cricket
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