Golden rule in commentaries

Don’t miss the ball...

Premasara EPASINGHE

The general belief among the educated intelligentsia is in a man’s or a woman’s life, the period known as ‘decade of wisdom’ – Gnanadasakaya, dawns between the age of 40 to 50 years.

The wealth of experience, the education, you have gained in your life, reaches a certain peak form when you reach 40 plus.

Today, I complete 40 years as a cricket commentator, which I commenced, in the year 1971, when I commentated the Royal-Thomian ‘Big Match’.

Incidently, this was the first occasion a Sinhala commentary was aired through the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, on a Royal-Thomian. I must mention here, the role played by SLBC in relaying cricket commentaries ‘live’ from (not commentating a match viewing on a TV screen in SLBC studio) the grounds were highly commendable.

In fact, I consider the ‘golden age’ of radio commentaries at SLBC, was dawned during the time, when a very knowledgable Sports Director – late Carlton Seneviratne’s period. He was the former Sports Editor – Daily News for many years. I consider him as my ‘guru’ in sports - print and electronic media, in sports.

It was L Wijemanne who introduced me to commentary box. It was Mrs Nanda Jayamanne and late Gunaratne Abeysekera who opened the doors to me at SLBC.

With the mega event – ICC World Cup 2011, round the corner, our radio commentators will have a busy time. I wish them good luck.

In this article, I thought to share my experience and views as a radio commentator, to our dear readers.

I humbly state, I commentated the first Test of Sri Lanka, 100th and 150th Test. Further, I created history in 1985, in commentating ‘live Sinhala commentaries’ live from Peshawar, Faisalabad, Gujaranwala, Sailkot, Lahore and Karachchi, thanks to the initiative taken by late Gamini Dissanayake as the President of the BCCSL.

It was also a landmark in the broadcasting history, as it was the first ever live cricket commentary relayed from foreign soil.

Further, I was sent to India and Pakistan to relay Sinhala cricket commentaries on the 1996 World Cup, played in Pakistan and India. Of course, in my forty year stint of my commentary career, I reached the pinnacle when I commentated the historical victory of Sri Lanka annexing the 1996 World Cup beating Australia by 7 wickets on March 17, 1996, fifteen years ago, live from the Gaddafi stadium, Lahore, Pakistan. I pay my gratitude to Yasapala, a civil servant who was then acting Chairman of SLBC, in granting me that golden opportunity.

Some ingredients to be a commentator

To be a radio commentator, there are few important ingredients, basic qualifications you require. Good health, gift of the gab, a clear, pleasant, strong voice, which must have confidence. You must possess a clear delivery, and you should paint a ‘picture with words’ with colourful vocabulary. You must gain your identity through your listenable voice. It should not be a noise. Your voice is your best identity.

Before the commencement of the play, describe about the weather, environment about the teams, toss of the coin, and about the wicket. Remember the golden rule – don’t miss the ball.

In 1985, before play commenced in the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test match played at Faizalabad, Pakistan.

I mentioned the historical background of Faizalabad and stated that in ancient history of India, this city was known as Lylepur, and presently Faizalabad is a made-up city and designed in the shape of the Union Jack flag.

Then, when I commentated from Sialkot, before the commencement of the Sialkot Test, I educated the listeners about the city of Sialkot, famous for surgical equipment and sports goods.

The listeners are not going to listen to your commentary throughout the proceedings of the match. It is not like listening to ‘Dhamma sermon’ delivered by a monk. Therefore, it is very necessary to give an update very quickly after an over – total, individual scores, etc. In an ODI, mention the number of overs, the total, individual scores, very often. This is a must.

Don’t get carried away. Sometimes some of our commentators, when describing run of play, go on and on and sometimes they forget to mention the scores.

Automatic rhythm clear voice

The art of good radio commentary is to get into ‘automatic rhythm’. Your voice is your identity. Give the thrills and excitement. Paint a picture in the mind for those not in the ground.

The commentator must be knowledgeable. He must be like ‘computer’. Flow of words is vital. Never ever criticize an umpire’s decision. If you are hundred percent sure that an umpire blundered, state that ‘batsman is lucky’ to remain in a very subtle manner.

You must not talk over applause. If a batsman, is returning to the pavilion after a fine knock, let the reception be registered.

Commentator is a human being. He is bound to make a mistake. Sometimes, when you are at full flow you may mix up names. When Bruce Yardley is at the crease, mistakenly a commentator might identify him as Bruce Lee or when Inzam-ul-Ha q is batting in full cry, trying to keep the pace with Inzamam, mistakenly commentator might say that the batsman in full cry – is Zia-ul-Haq. Therefore, you must be careful about some similar names. Before you deliver, give a message to your brain, put the gear on the brain, and announce it. Do not rush. Be patient. Anybody can make mistakes. That’s natural.

What is the role of a commentator?

The commentator’s job is to commentate. Try not to describe too much details, how a batsman was out. Leave it to the ‘Expert’. You are a commentator, not a critic. Do not jump the gun, in ruling out a batsman, before umpire gives the ‘marching orders’.

Once I learned a bitter lesson, by ruling out a Sri Lankan batsman, before the umpire’s decision, in an International One Day match played in Sri Lanka.

The opener, in the first over, itself was trying to pull a ball to a rising express delivery to fine-leg. I clearly saw, the ball slightly brushing the batsman’s glove and deflecting towards leg slip. The wicket-keeper gleefully accepted the catch. Before the umpire’s decision, I ruled him out. It was a straight forward decision. Even the fielding side did not appeal as it was very clear it touched the glove. When the batsman remained without walking out to the pavillion, bowler, keeper, slips, all appealed.

The umpire unmoved, said not out. As a commentator, I have no right in giving that decision before the umpire, on a caught and behind, lbw, or run out. Today, we can see the re-plays on TV. It was not available in the good old days.

When you get into the ‘box’, you have to forget your patriotic feelings, when SL is involved in a match. Further, you must be always impartial.

Way back in 1982, I commentated on a ‘big match’ played at the Sara Stadium. Before the toss of the coin, I examined the wicket. There were many patches on the wicket and there were few ball marks on the turf.

When I was inspecting the wicket, the ground boy, whom I knew as a Nalanda cricketer, master-in-charge and Prefect of Games, called me to a side and said, “Sir, if your Nalanda captain Roshan Gunaratne calls correctly, ask him to put Anandians to bat first. I am positive, the side that bats first, will not get more than 175 runs”.

I smiled and thanked him. I never told the secret to anybody. I was the commentator – I am impartial and here I am not a Nalandian.

”Sir, how is the wicket?”

In his inimitable style, Gerry replied “Chap, Epa, I hope this boy Roshan can win the toss. I will put Ananda to bat. I will assure you, Epa, we can break the ‘hoodoo’ after 1953. Nalanda will register a ‘big match’ victory after 29 years,” stated Gerry Gooneratne.

Later, I came to know there was some misunderstanding between the authorities and the coach and the skipper after winning the toss, wanted to listen to his master (this was revealed to me later by the skipper late Roshan Guneratne) very correctly as a student, elected to bat and lost the match by 3.45 pm on the second day.

When I met Ananda skipper in 1999 in London, he told me, he was so lucky that Nalandians offered the victory on platter by allowing them to bowl first.

My skipper Nihal Withana, who captained Nalanda in 1956, who was a reputed engineer and I had dinner at 1982 Ananda victorious captain Deepal Dharmasekera’s place and it was here, he revealed the inside story.

Before a commentary, collect all ‘associated material’ necessary for the commentary.

Some renowned commentators follow the ‘pyramid’ system or method, where you systematically describe the relevant facts, information connected to the game. The most important rule is never miss the ball. Follow it throughout the game. As a commentator, be always in the game.

In the history of cricket the commentator John Arlott is considered as the greatest – he was known as the voice of cricket. With his description, even a blind person can witness the match, because he paints a picture of the match in the mind of an unfortunate man.

Once gone – it is gone forever

For the benefit of radio commentators, I related this interesting story. Once commentating, a golf commentator, mentioned about the wife of the golf champion Arnold Palmer.

To add more colour and flavour, to the commentary the ‘good commentator’ without describing the ‘run of play’ of champion Arnold Palmer, to draw the attention of his dear listeners, mentioned how superstitious Mrs Palmer before his husband’s match and stated that before every championship game, she used to kiss Arnold Palmer’s balls.

The commentator missed the vital word golf balls. Realizing his mistake, he tried to explain and rectify the error - “sorry listeners its Arnold Palmer’s golf balls”. By trying to correct it, the commentator cut a sorry figure.

Remember, once it is gone in the air, it is gone. You cannot get it back.

Some of the great commentators

The famous Australian commentator - Alan McGilvary, South African - Charles Fortune, West Indian - Tony Crosier, English - Brian Johnston, they were legends in the art of commentating.

Charles Fortune was considered as the ‘best educated commentator’ and his descriptive style was amazing. Once, he was commentating at Adelaide, he described the environment in poetic language thus:

”I can see the beautiful spire of St Peter’s Cathedral, silhouetted against the azure blue sky.”

He was describing the environment so much, he missed the fall of three wickets.

”At the start of this over from Lindwall, South Africa are sixty three for no wickets. Now my scorer says its 63 for 3 wickets”. If you are a good reputed commentator, you get the opportunity of seeing the world, its cultures.

I was fortunate that I got the opportunity to see the world, meet nice people and understand the different varied cultures of countries. Its a fantastic experience.

If you have played cricket seriously, you can be a fine commentator. That does not mean only cricketers can commentate. If you are keen, committed, and read cricket books, you can be a good cricket commentator.

Don’t think that you know everything in the art of commentating. We all learn daily. It is a continuous process of learning. Be a good public relations man.

As a commentator you are part of a commentary panel or team. It is team work that matters. Give your best to your listeners.