Because the Liberal/Left elites who run the MSM, Entertainment, Education, and BBC hate the Traditional West? It really is that simple, not merely some neglecting or reduced budget, but done to undermine what was part of the once Great Britain, same as is done to the National Trust and how it presents the historical places it manages.
The same is true of the Saturday afternoon Sky football coverage.
The fun banter between the presenters (who are largely white males representative of a certain era) is no longer considered acceptable – despite it being the main attraction of the programme.
Diversity quotas seem to be more important than the content itself.
Old white men certainly, but that is no reason to reject them. The old men of cricket had a hinterland and humanity.They probably drifted into broadcasting and thought it a bit of an odd career. I remember Johnners doing “down your way”, on the wireless, talking to people in their villages, small towns. He was utterly natural and charming in a way that had no artifice.Broadcasters are all technique now, performing without engaging,but eager for advantage.
The slowness of TMS was so captivating, something we seem incapable of appreciating.Our culture has become so irritated and impatient with tradition, weded to constant change, progress is pursued with haste and desperation.
David B
2 years ago
“What do they know of cricket, who only cricket know?” (C.L.R. James)
Tom Lewis
2 years ago
It’s not the destination that’s important, but the journey and the people you meet on the way.
Peter Steven
2 years ago
As someone who has loved TMS since the 1970s, I share the writer’s sadness that so many of the old guard have died / retired. But the programme will retain my interest so long as the younger generation of presenters continue to work humour, life experience and double entendre into their commentary.
Arlott and Johnston were unique characters – irreplaceable – but some of the current crop, such as Dan Norcross and Isa Guha have potential – the latter’s comment at the recent Lord’s Test about the popping of corks reminded me of the legover incident.
I feel that there are too many different presenters involved – I wonder if they feel as if they are on trial, worried about being dropped after a bad game/ inappropriate comment (a fate that could not befall a guest overseas commentator)?
Nostalgia for the presenters of one’s youth is inevitable but it takes a while to create a broadcasting style. Arlott did 34 years. Johnston 27. CMJ 39. Of the current commentators, Jonathan Agnew, who started in 1991, has extraordinary service. But most of the others have only done a few years, and that without consistency.
In recent years, the BBC’s loss of broadcasting rights for overseas tours has weakened TMS but I still enjoy it hugely. Oddly, the BBC’s television highlights package for test matches, with many of the same presenters, makes me squirm. It’s as if they have been told to make cricket groovy by adding music and fast moving graphics. It doesn’t work for me.
Hooray Peter Steven, spot on. Do you recall the Bobby guarding the stumps, being taken strawberries and cream etc when everyone was indulging having gone to tea – or the discussion concerning the number of pigeons landing on the pitch. Maybe not cricket but it added to the atmosphere. Very British, like closing a major waterway to race rowing boats.
Thank you, Trevor, for your kind words (on my first Unherd comment).
Henry Blofeld’s comments about pigeons, or red buses on the Wellington Road, became something of a caricature and I suppose he had to retire when his eyesight became a problem. But, as others have written, the test of good TMS commentators is how well they deal with a day when rain stops play.
I felt a particular affinity for CMJ – we both studied History at Cambridge. I just hope that the BBC continue to make space for enthusiasts and quirky people, amongst the pros, which was one of the writer’s points.
When Talksport took the rights last winter, they marketed their product as “More cricket. Less cake”. This was not progress in my book!
James Finnemore
2 years ago
All the current commentators are interested in is who is going to win… dull!
Peter Harris
2 years ago
I wrote to the BBC on this very point years ago. No reply. The joy of TMS was the mix of former players and cricket writers and journalists. Now it’s dominated by former players the wider joys and as you say cricket’s hinterland is lost. It’s become monocultural. Perhaps Atherton on Sky is the last the breed? Manchester Grammar School, Cambridge, Lancashire, England captain and a great writer on cricket as well as commentator. Test Match cricket has to be more for the audience than the narrative of the dressing room from old pros?
Graeme Laws
2 years ago
Sky have still got Bumble. Praise be.
Don Holden
2 years ago
“Rain stops play “, heaven for TMS fans of old !
Rick Lawrence
2 years ago
All I can say is “it’s just not cricket”.
Lesley van Reenen
2 years ago
I belonged to a cricket talk board many moons ago and TMS was central to a lot of discussion. Nostalgia!
david flood
1 year ago
dear sir are you still going as a discussion about tms
Chris Wheatley
2 years ago
This is about old men who fear change. Cricket, like a lot of things, is a part of the past. Accept it.
I’m sorry Chris, but that comment is among the least enlightened contributions I have ever seen …
There are loads of things in life that don’t match the current zeitgeist of broadcasting, but are valuable nevertheless.
“Why has this blandness taken hold?”
Because the Liberal/Left elites who run the MSM, Entertainment, Education, and BBC hate the Traditional West? It really is that simple, not merely some neglecting or reduced budget, but done to undermine what was part of the once Great Britain, same as is done to the National Trust and how it presents the historical places it manages.
Somehow I guessed that someonewould immediately leap in with “Liberal/Left elites. it is the go-to insult.
He’s best ignored when he goes off on one.
It is also true, alas
The same is true of the Saturday afternoon Sky football coverage.
The fun banter between the presenters (who are largely white males representative of a certain era) is no longer considered acceptable – despite it being the main attraction of the programme.
Diversity quotas seem to be more important than the content itself.
….
…
….
Old white men certainly, but that is no reason to reject them. The old men of cricket had a hinterland and humanity.They probably drifted into broadcasting and thought it a bit of an odd career. I remember Johnners doing “down your way”, on the wireless, talking to people in their villages, small towns. He was utterly natural and charming in a way that had no artifice.Broadcasters are all technique now, performing without engaging,but eager for advantage.
The slowness of TMS was so captivating, something we seem incapable of appreciating.Our culture has become so irritated and impatient with tradition, weded to constant change, progress is pursued with haste and desperation.
“What do they know of cricket, who only cricket know?” (C.L.R. James)
It’s not the destination that’s important, but the journey and the people you meet on the way.
As someone who has loved TMS since the 1970s, I share the writer’s sadness that so many of the old guard have died / retired. But the programme will retain my interest so long as the younger generation of presenters continue to work humour, life experience and double entendre into their commentary.
Arlott and Johnston were unique characters – irreplaceable – but some of the current crop, such as Dan Norcross and Isa Guha have potential – the latter’s comment at the recent Lord’s Test about the popping of corks reminded me of the legover incident.
I feel that there are too many different presenters involved – I wonder if they feel as if they are on trial, worried about being dropped after a bad game/ inappropriate comment (a fate that could not befall a guest overseas commentator)?
Nostalgia for the presenters of one’s youth is inevitable but it takes a while to create a broadcasting style. Arlott did 34 years. Johnston 27. CMJ 39. Of the current commentators, Jonathan Agnew, who started in 1991, has extraordinary service. But most of the others have only done a few years, and that without consistency.
In recent years, the BBC’s loss of broadcasting rights for overseas tours has weakened TMS but I still enjoy it hugely. Oddly, the BBC’s television highlights package for test matches, with many of the same presenters, makes me squirm. It’s as if they have been told to make cricket groovy by adding music and fast moving graphics. It doesn’t work for me.
Hooray Peter Steven, spot on. Do you recall the Bobby guarding the stumps, being taken strawberries and cream etc when everyone was indulging having gone to tea – or the discussion concerning the number of pigeons landing on the pitch. Maybe not cricket but it added to the atmosphere. Very British, like closing a major waterway to race rowing boats.
Thank you, Trevor, for your kind words (on my first Unherd comment).
Henry Blofeld’s comments about pigeons, or red buses on the Wellington Road, became something of a caricature and I suppose he had to retire when his eyesight became a problem. But, as others have written, the test of good TMS commentators is how well they deal with a day when rain stops play.
I felt a particular affinity for CMJ – we both studied History at Cambridge. I just hope that the BBC continue to make space for enthusiasts and quirky people, amongst the pros, which was one of the writer’s points.
When Talksport took the rights last winter, they marketed their product as “More cricket. Less cake”. This was not progress in my book!
All the current commentators are interested in is who is going to win… dull!
I wrote to the BBC on this very point years ago. No reply. The joy of TMS was the mix of former players and cricket writers and journalists. Now it’s dominated by former players the wider joys and as you say cricket’s hinterland is lost. It’s become monocultural. Perhaps Atherton on Sky is the last the breed? Manchester Grammar School, Cambridge, Lancashire, England captain and a great writer on cricket as well as commentator. Test Match cricket has to be more for the audience than the narrative of the dressing room from old pros?
Sky have still got Bumble. Praise be.
“Rain stops play “, heaven for TMS fans of old !
All I can say is “it’s just not cricket”.
I belonged to a cricket talk board many moons ago and TMS was central to a lot of discussion. Nostalgia!
dear sir are you still going as a discussion about tms
This is about old men who fear change. Cricket, like a lot of things, is a part of the past. Accept it.
If it’s still being played, how is it part of the past?
One might peruse the Wikipedia page on cricket in Afghanistan. Perhap apposite at this time.
I’m sorry Chris, but that comment is among the least enlightened contributions I have ever seen …
There are loads of things in life that don’t match the current zeitgeist of broadcasting, but are valuable nevertheless.