As the traditional Ashes contest begins between England and Australia, Australian Cricket Captains have united in congratulating ABC Grandstand Commentator Jim Maxwell on his latest commentary milestone. The Brisbane test, which begins next week, will mark 50 Ashes tests for the ABC’s veteran commentator.
Current Australian Test Captain Ricky Ponting said: “Fifty not out! Good luck on pushing towards a century. All the players appreciate listening to you on the radio, in Australia or overseas. It’s going to be a big summer of cricket, of which you’ll be a massive part.”
Other tributes include:
Kim Hughes: “Congratulations Jim on your fifty. When anybody in Australia thinks of cricket they think of you. I hope your next fifty is as thrilling and exciting as your first!”
Allan Border: “It’s always been great to listen to your dulcet tones in summer. [Fifty Ashes tests is] a huge achievement.”
Mark Taylor: “I’m not sure your cricketing ability would have allowed you to play fifty test matches against England but it’s a great achievement and as we always say, if you get to fifty, go on and make a hundred.”
Steve Waugh: “You are the voice of cricket. Go on and make a hundred and enjoy this Summer’s series.”
Maxwell’s long association with the Ashes is at least partially due to his love of the contest: “The Ashes is the most appealing test contest in cricket. When the teams are evenly matched, as they’ve been in 2005 and 2009 and perhaps this summer, there is no cricket more compelling.”
Maxwell commentated his first Ashes test at the SCG in January 1979, where Australia had been dominant for most of the game. Then, Derek Randall entered the ground. “He was hit on the pads to his first ball from Geoff Dymock, it was plumb [a clear dismissal],” said Maxwell. “But Randall survived and went on to make a long, nearly 10 hour 150, and England went on to win the game and the series.”
ABC Grandstand will provide coverage of the forthcoming Ashes Test Cricket series, as well as subsequent One Day Internationals and Twenty20 games against England. On ABC Local Radio across Australia, online at abc.net.au/grandstand or uninterrupted commentary on ABC Grandstand digital radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Commentators Jim Maxwell, Glenn Mitchell and Jonathon Agnew, will be joined by a number of cricket experts over the course of the summer, including Kerry O’Keeffe, Damien Fleming, Peter Roebuck, Geoff Lawson and Terry Alderman.
DJPA