Eleventh Cricket World Cup is interestingly poised after three
weeks. Only a few teams are decisively out of contention for knock out stage. I
have almost religiously followed each World Cup. On Radio to begin with, then
in front of TV. Now of course internet and mobile don’t let you miss a single
action. My childhood friends who used to be equally passionate, have slowly
stopped ‘wasting’ (as per them) time. But I continue to be glued to Cricket
action. Even after Forty years, close encounters, like the one between Zimbabwe
and Ireland today, still creates an air of excitement in me.
Has Cricket changed since the first World
Cup in 1975? Yes to an extent - the clothing, the equipment, the grounds, the
stands. But, core of Cricket is still the same. Same Leather balls of the same
weight, same bat, and pitch of same length. So not much of a change really.
What
has definitely changed, and changed for the good, is the manner in which people
follow Cricket. For somebody like me, who has spent his entire life in a small
town in interiors of Marathwada region in Maharashtra, the venues of
international Cricket are not nearby. I must have watched live international
Cricket in Stadium for not more than Ten days. But I have spent Hundreds of
hours listening to Radio commentary in early years and later watching on TV.
The Cricket broadcast has changed drastically over the years, primarily due to
modern technology.
Cricket bug had bitten me very early in my
life. Even though I was just Fourteen at the time of first World cup, I had
already become a fan of BBC Test match special because I had experienced the
excitement of India beating England at Oval in 1971. It was a tough time
defying elders in house as well as understanding heavy accent of the likes of
Brian Johnston and Henry Blofeld. Neither All India Radio nor Indian players
had taken this one day format of Cricket seriously.
Second edition of Prudential World Cup in
1979 was more or less the similar story. Indian attitude had hardly changed.
But ardent Cricket fans like me were being sumptuously treated by Windies
Cricketers and BBC’s commentary team.
India won
the 1983 cup and things started to change dramatically. Suddenly Indian TV
audience emerged as a huge market. Hence Cricket’s TV coverage started being
controlled by marketing professionals. Amateur commentators like Suresh Saraiya
slowly made way for hardcore marketing professionals like Harsha Bhogle.
India won the 1983 cup and things started to change dramatically. suddenly Indian TV audience emerged as a huge market. Hence Cricket'sTV coverage started being controlled by marketing professionals. Amateur commentators like Suresh Saraiyya slowly made way for media savvy professionals like Harsha Bhogle.
Kerry
Packer's Channel 9 decisively altered the course of Cricket broadcasting.
India got its first taste during Bensen Hedges championship in 1985 and then
again during 1992 world cup. A great bunch of insightful and knowledgeable
ex-Cricketers turned commentators meant listening to them was more entertaining
than the action on ground!
Now that the action on the ground was visible to the viewer, TV
commentator had to tell something beyond what is seen. Hence various tools
started becoming part of broadcaster’s armoury. Multiple cameras, ,
introduction of third umpire adjucating with the help of Slow motion replays,
hot spot technologies etc. The legend has it that Bobby Talyarkhan, well known
Cricket commentator in Sixties (I remember him listening to him during 1972
series against England) used to tap his desk by pencil to simulate stroke
played by batsman. Now we have stump mic and snickometers ready not only to
catch bat sound but also the players’ indulgence in sledging!
In the olden days, commentators like
Suresh Saraiya, Anant Setalwad etc used to be accompanied by scorers in the AIR
commentary box. All India Radio used to announce their names at the beginning
of broadcast. Anand Dosa and Sudhir Vaidya are some names that I still
remember. Their painstaking record keeping is now replaced by powerful computer
systems which are an important companion of today’s TV commentator. Every
conceivable data analysis is now available at fingertips.
Entry of former Cricketers into commentary
has certainly made watching Cricket (and particularly listening to them) more
educative. Youngsters from even remote areas are now able to understand the
nuances of the sport directly from those who have been there and done it all!
Match coverage has become very glamorous
now. During the telecast, spectator is now given a glimpse of exotic tourist
locations and cuisines. Various pre and post match shows have now become more
or less promotional events.
Technology is all pervading. It has
entered in Cricket broadcasting too. It has certainly made watching Cricket a
great fun. But has it made it memorable? Yesteryear’s commentators, with their
sheer ability of narration used to create such a powerful visualization of
happenings on Cricket ground, that those impressions are still vivid in memory.
Can you say it about the match you might have watched live a week ago?