Following England’s Test series in Pakistan, Jonathan Agnew announced his resignation as the BBC’s cricket reporter. However, he will continue to commentate during the Test series on the BBC’s Test Match Special (TMS). His participation in limited-over matches is still up in the air.
A longtime listener shares that while Agnew didn’t start with TMS until later, he’s since become “the voice of cricket,” embodying the essence of the sport for listeners as early as the 1960s, when the fan’s late father, a cricket-loving Scottish Communist, first introduced him to the program.
While Agnew has sometimes expressed criticism of franchise cricket, he generally keeps up with the evolving landscape of the game. His appreciation of the people behind cricket, which he shares with the late Brian Johnston, has helped him stay relevant.
The Beard Liberation Front’s organizer, who also supports beards in cricket, gives Agnew a special mention by reminding him that growing a beard is a custom among retiring men and urging him to enjoy it in this new stage of life.
As he reflects on his time at TMS, which he views as a bridge between the emerging voices of today, such as Steven Finn and Alex Hartley, and the old guard, such as Brian Johnston and Fred Trueman, Agnew recognizes the connection of eras he has joined.
He points out that TMS has changed over the years, going from being a bunch of older white guys to having a wide range of voices. Agnew is proud of this development and the inclusive strides TMS has achieved.
TMS, a platform that Agnew values greatly and that combines tradition and contemporary in the constantly changing world of cricket commentary, continues to be a significant part of his life.
