New TMS producer signs on
LORD'S - So here goes! This is my first Test as the new producer of Test Match Special.
I am hoping that today is less stressful than the first one-day international I was in charge of four years ago.
That took place in Dambulla during England's tour of Sri Lanka. To be honest the image I had of life as a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ cricket producer abroad was rather romantic, sitting back in some exotic location watching England in action. The reality was not quite the same.
When I arrived in Dambulla there was no sign of any broadcast lines so the only way we were able to get on air was via a small satellite.
However I had a nightmare trying to get a good enough signal, so I ended up balancing a very expensive piece of equipment on a piece of scaffolding with me hanging onto it throughout the broadcast.
But that was the least of my problems. The stadium in Dambulla is situated in the middle of the jungle and with this game being played under lights it attracted literally millions of insects.
So there I was holding onto the satellite with both hands whilst my body was being bitten to pieces by bugs. I am not expecting the same experience here at the home of cricket!
I certainly couldn't have wished for a more talented team to be working with at my first Test.
Joining our cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew and TMS stalwarts Henry Blofeld and Christopher Martin-Jenkins will be one of the newer members of our commentary team Arlo White.
Just a couple of months ago Arlo became the proud father of twin girls Eva and Amelie - so I won't be surprised to find him asleep under the desk, catching up after sleepless nights.
I am also thrilled to have some of the biggest names in cricket working with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ as expert summarisers. Our team of Sunil Gavaskar, Geoff Boycott, Alec Stewart and Angus Fraser boasts 412 Test appearances and over 27,000 Test match runs (Angus is very proud of the 388 runs he is contributing!)
You will also hear the former Surrey and England batsman Graham Thorpe joining us on occasions over the next five days.
Graham is over in England taking a break from his new life as a coach in Australia. It will be fascinating to hear what he makes of the current England set-up.
I have lots planned for TMS listeners during interval in play. At lunch on Thursday Christopher Martin-Jenkins will be discussing the issues he raised during the brilliant Cowdrey Lecture he delivered at the start of the week. This includes the idea of captains "bidding" runs at the toss. You must tune in for details of that.
During the lunch interval on Friday we'll be looking back on the famous 1990 England v India Test Match at Lords.
There was Graham Gooch's incredible batting, Kapil Dev's four sixes to save the follow-on, that amazing one-handed Tendulkar catch, Azharuddin's sublime 121 and much much more.
It was actually one of the few Test matches I missed completely as I was on holiday in Italy and couldn't get any updates.
When I finally got hold of an English newspaper with a full scorecard of the match I assumed that the Gooch details were a misprint. Who scores 333 and 123 in a Test match?
I made sure I bought the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ video "Gooch's Indian Summer" to see if it was true! Gooch, Kapil Dev, Azharuddin and Eddie Hemmings will be joining us to relive the memories.
David English will be joining us during Thursday’s tea break to talk about the latest of his "Bunbury Cricket Festivals".
Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick are among those who've played in previous events and David will be giving us an idea of names to look out for in the future. Also, coach John Abrahams will be naming the England Under-19 squad during Friday's tea interval.
As there is currently no Test Match in Norwich we've chosen Lord’s as the venue to welcome Nicolas Parsons as our View from the Boundary on Saturday.
The host of Sale of the Century and Just a Minute has exemplary cricketing credentials as a former president of the Lord’s Taverners.
I fully expect his chat with Jonathan Agnew to be conducted without hesitation, repetition or deviation.
And finally don't miss the chance to Call the Commentators during Sunday's lunch break - you'll be able to call, text us on 84040 or e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk.
