In 1957 a whole day's play of a Test Match was broadcast on BBC Radio for the first time with the slogan 'Don't miss a ball, we broadcast them all'.
This book celebrates 50 years ofTest Match Specialwith anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, photos, reminiscences and champagne moments from five decades of top-quality cricket commentary. Sprinkled throughout are 'My FirstTMSMatch' articles by a number of the programme's main contributors, including Jonathan Agnew, Harsha Bhogle, Henry Blofeld, Tony Cozier, Angus Fraser, Bill Frindall, Gerald de Kock, Simon Mann, Vic Marks, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Jim Maxwell, Shilpa Patel, Mike Selvey, Donna Symmonds and Bryan Waddle.
Edited by Peter Baxter, the organising brain behindTMSand the programme's producer for 34 years, this is a comprehensive and celebratory account of this most respected and prestigious brand in cricket and an essential read for all fans of the game.
Peter Baxter first worked on Test Match Special as a production assistant 40 years ago and became the programme's producer in 1973. Born in Derby in 1947 and educated at Wellington College, Peter joined the BBC in 1965 after a short spell in the British Forces Broadcasting Service in Aden. As well as cricket, Peter was rugby producer for eight years, produced the coverage of the annual University Boat Race for 10 years and has worked on almost every other type of radio outside broadcast - sporting or otherwise. He lives in north Buckinghamshire with his two children.
An engagingly written account of 50 years of Test Match Special by the principal commentators.