Sharjah circus… that’s the first time I heard him doing the commentary. While Sachin‘s scored those two awesome centuries against the Aussies, it was Grieg going absolutely over the top describing his shots which made the matches come alive – “Oh you little beauty” I probably associate more with Grieg than Bill Lawry. He is the one who turned boring commentary on sub continents into an exciting description of the happenings. Added spice, wit and at times sarcasm to the process.
I used to get up at 5 in the morning for any series played in Australia (even non India games). Just to hear Grieg, Bill Lawry and Richie Benaud. I may not watch the match and be doing something else but the volume used to be loud so that I could catch every word.
Was too young back when he used to play but I remember bits of the series when he had come to India as the Captain and much like the current English team, decimated the Indian spin prowess and mind you… Bedi, Chandrashekar & Prasanna were way way better than the current lot!
And while I might not entirely be correct but he also bought a certain amount of steel into the English Cricket team. Taking on the likes of Thomson, Lillee, Roberts, Holding and co. must have been a daunting task.
He along with Kerry Packer changed the way World played Cricket. He probably saw the future of cricket lot earlier than most and also believed strongly in it to stay with Packer when the entire concept was debunked by various cricket boards. I would imagine that he is perhaps the one who changed cricket for the better. Rest are just followers.
May your soul rest in peace.
Related articles
- Breaking News: Stars mourn a giant of modern cricket – Tony Grieg dead at 66 (wellthisiswhatithink.wordpress.com)
- Benaud pays tribute to Greig (abc.net.au)
- Greig was ‘godfather of modern cricket’ (iol.co.za)
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