³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ to extend county coverage
I am very fortunate in my job to watch some fantastic cricket around the world, but perhaps my favourite moment of last season actually took place whilst I was in a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ studio locked in the bowels of Television Centre in London.
It was at 13 minutes past five on 15 September when Lancashire supporters were finally able to celebrate a first outright Championship title for 77 years.
A county campaign which began in April was decided in the last few minutes of the final day of the season. It was one of the most dramatic climaxes in the long history of the Championship and will live long in the memory.
The title headed the way of the Red Rose county courtesy of a last-gasp victory at Somerset. A few moments before the winning runs were struck at Taunton, news filtered in from the Rose Bowl that closest rivals Warwickshire had only drawn their match with Hampshire, so the champagne could be put on ice.
I was in the Radio 5 live sports extra studio helping to produce our coverage as we switched between commentary teams at Taunton, the Rose Bowl and also in Durham - where the home side started the final round of games with an outside chance of the title. We also had reporters keeping their eye on promotion and relegation issues on what proved to be an absolutely thrilling four days of action.
It again showed that despite its detractors and despite the endless reforms, reports and reviews of the county game the product can still be gripping. The 2011 attendance figures show almost a 10% increase through the turnstiles with more than 500,000 people watching Championship cricket last year. Not really the "one man and his dog" cliche.
Lancashire won last year's County Championship for the first time since 1934. Photo; Getty
It's also true that just because crowds aren't always enormous for every game, it doesn't mean people are not interested.
This is shown week in, week out by the phenomenal success of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ local radio cricket commentaries which cover the majority of matches through the season. On Thursday, when the 2012 Championship season gets under way, commentary teams up and down the UK will swing back into action bringing loyal listeners all the latest news of their teams. It's an incredible service that is provided and I am delighted to say this year there are going to be greater efforts to spread the word.
Radio 5 live sports extra is joining forces with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ local radio to broadcast the best of the action on digital radio, digital television and online worldwide.
When possible, county commentary is going to be carried on Radio 5 live sports extra this season with regular updates and scores from all the games, plus features and interviews showcasing the domestic game.
This will start on Thursday 12 April, where there will be commentary on the London derby between the two newly promoted sides Middlesex and Surrey at Lord's. You'll be able to hear your ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ London favourites Mark Church, Kevin Hand and Johnny Barran, while Alison Mitchell and Kevin Howells will keep listeners up to date with matches elsewhere. Plus, expect the odd famous name to pop in over the four days to join in the fun.
Of course from time to time Radio 5 live sports extra will have to leave for coverage of other major sporting events - but the commentary will continue online so you hopefully won't miss any of the action.
All the details of which games will be covered will be at www.bbc.co.uk/cricket as normal. This will also be the site to check out regularly for scores, interviews and features. Kevin Howells and the team will continue to report regularly over on Radio 5 live and it is worth following Kevin on Twitter to help keep across the latest county stories.
And listen out for some further announcements about more live cricket coming your way this summer - not to mention the new year-long TMS Podcast which will feature the domestic game as well as all the international action.
I can't promise the same sort of exciting county season as last year with a final day climax - but I can promise if it happens the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ will be there to cover it.
Hello I'm Adam Mountford and I'm the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Cricket producer. My main
responsibility is to produce Test Match Special but I also look after our cricket coverage on other ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ outlets. My blog attempts to give you a flavour of life behind the scenes of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Cricket team. .
Comment number 1.
At 3rd Apr 2012, TP wrote:An excellent idea.
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Comment number 2.
At 3rd Apr 2012, ionbottom wrote:But will those of us who are fortunate enough to live "outside the UK" be allowed to listen. Or will I have to jump through hoops, as I already do, just to listen to TMS??
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Comment number 3.
At 3rd Apr 2012, Kaspar Larsen wrote:@ionbottom
The county streams worked just fine outside the UK last season, so unless something dramatically has changed, you should be fine.
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Comment number 4.
At 3rd Apr 2012, Stargazer wrote:Great idea! Kevin Hand and Mark Church make the commentary such fun. Just let them have their heads and speak to the world in the same informal way as usual rather than making it too serious.
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Comment number 5.
At 3rd Apr 2012, Adam Mountford - ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Cricket Producer wrote:You will be able to hear our new county coverage online worldwide. Basically our current commentary deal with the ECB allows all our domestic and international coverage to be broadcast online everywhere. It is only when we broadcast overseas that we are sometimes limited as to where our online commentary is allowed to be broadcast.
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Comment number 6.
At 3rd Apr 2012, SimonH wrote:Great news ... wrote in to the consultation last year & am v glad that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has seen sense. Mark Church's Surrey commentary makes the season.
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Comment number 7.
At 4th Apr 2012, Pete_in_Dresden wrote:More power to the Beeb for giving Mark Church more exposure. Totally agree with SimonH!
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Comment number 8.
At 4th Apr 2012, Geoff wrote:Has Radio Solent been encouraged to join the commentary party, so that we can listen to Hampshire's matches? (For those games where they cannot rely on the away team's radio station doing it.)
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Comment number 9.
At 4th Apr 2012, richard wrote:I have a pure internet radio and can see live commentary for Worcs, Middx, Warw, Durham and a few other counties. As an exiled Yorkshireman please comfirm that the Yorkshire commentary via the internet will be available via pure radios "lounge" many thanks
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Comment number 10.
At 4th Apr 2012, Maldontyke wrote:This is a great service, and I hope that the rumours about cutbacks prove to be untrue. However....
...I also have a Pure internet radio, because I don't want to sit by a computer all day. When I try to listen to internet commentary of Yorkshire's games, I invariably end up picking up other matches instead. Please can the person doing the linking make sure it's done correctly this season.
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Comment number 11.
At 5th Apr 2012, richard wrote:clarksonpi
How do you get the Yorkshire commentary on a pure internet radio?, the Pure lounge has about 6 ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ counties commentaries you can save but not Yorkshire!. Help much appreciated and does anyone know why Yorkshires commentary isnt in the Pure lounge?
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Comment number 12.
At 5th Apr 2012, Maldontyke wrote:Hmmm. Last year '³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Yorkshire Commentary' was there as an option, even though it played commentary of the wrong game. Now it has disappeared completely. Is this the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ or YCCC? Not such a great service after all if you are an exiled Yorkshire supporter.
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Comment number 13.
At 5th Apr 2012, richard wrote:Thanks for the reply clarksonpi. Adam,, I'm sure commentary is from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, please can you add the Yorkshire commentary to pure radios lounge, its the only one missing! Thanks
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