[Nova21]

Sir Viv has had an excellent first stint as summariser. Much improved from when I remember him a few years ago.
Blowers really is such a waste of space. Adds nothing anymore. Didnt know the exact slope at Lords. Can't argue a point and is not descriptive at all.

[AZ fan]

It's a shame that CMJ is currently unwell. I hope he is back soon. Anyone know what's the matter with him?

[Resonance]

Originally Posted by Nova21

Sir Viv has had an excellent first stint as summariser. Much improved from when I remember him a few years ago.
Blowers really is such a waste of space. Adds nothing anymore. Didnt know the exact slope at Lords. Can't argue a point and is not descriptive at all.

Ey, leave Blowers alone. He's an institution.

[tommytempras]

I listen to TMS just to listen to Blowers and I can't stand cricket, not the same without Johners though.

[Nova21]

Better off having Rory Bremner doing an impression of Blowers, then you can have the voice and the talk of cranes and birds (of which Blowers has zero knowledge), and you will also get more informed cricket chat about cricket post 1990.

[Gingerfake]

Originally Posted by Nova21

Better off having Rory Bremner doing an impression of Blowers, then you can have the voice and the talk of cranes and birds (of which Blowers has zero knowledge), and you will also get more informed cricket chat about cricket post 1990.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even if it is in this instance utter nonsense.

[swingaleg]

Sir Viv is an 'individual' alright..............

I think Bloers is past his sell by date now, by about 20 years............tbh I think CMJ is past it as well but sad to hear he's ill

I like Vic but he doesn't appear to be involved in this match

[Nova21]

Originally Posted by Gingerfake

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even if it is in this instance utter nonsense.

I humbly acknowledge your put down! But, I'm right

[Gingerfake]

Originally Posted by Nova21

I humbly acknowledge your put down! But, I'm right

I humbly acknowledge your response, but you are still wrong.
Blowers in an instiution. TMS has a mixture of commentators that is tampered with at its peril. The addition of Michael Vaughan has been one excellent addition.
Commentating is not as easy as it might seem.

Leave well alone. Blowers will know when it is time to call it a day.

[Hayden]

Re CMJ- more of an injury than illness it seems.

Christopher Martin-Jenkins, 23 February 2012

Michael, I have a torn tricep so writing is difficult. Forgive brevity. I agree with your thesis, not least in respect of the red text. Errors have become fewer and spin bowlers have been the main beneficiaries, which cannot be a bad thing. …
Warm regards, Christopher

[wns_195]

I'm enjoying this season of TMS so far. I would like to know more about the Line and Length Network. I know it is broadcast on Radio Anguilla, but is there a list of all the stations it is on?

[Yordel]

Great to have Tony Cozier as well. He's a legend

[MarkBeales]

I notice the TMS scorecard on 301 is rubbish this year

[La Rhumba]

I find both Blowers and CMJ can be irritating these days, as both are very forgetful of player's names and who is actually at the crease, though CMJ's off ball chats are always very informative - unlike Blowers.

I cannot bear that hoarse voice, it's always at a heightened pitch, so whether he's talking to the summariser or describing a wicket, there's no sense of increased excitement when the action takes place, and he's often behind the play, with the spectator cheers telling the listener what's happened before Blowers gets round to it.

Tony Cozier and Jim Maxwell are by far the best. A good addition to TMS would be Simon Hughes, who only seems available to commentate on Tour, but is streets ahead of the other fill-in Simon Mann.

[Jim_AFCB]

Blowers... guess you either love him or hate him.

For me, he is one of these eccentric English characters and someome who has helped make TMS the institution that it is.

[Spot]

Will they be marking the centenary of Brian Johnston's birth next month? I'm hoping there will be a programme on mainstream Radio 4 about his career in general, but a lunchtime feature concentrating on his contribution to TMS would be nice.

[Tombstone]

I too am starting to find Blowers irritating. I have listened for many years and alas he is now just an anachronism, the reason keeping him on only for comic effect, as his knowledge/memory is now lacking. I think Baxter would have canned him by now if still in charge.

Aggers continues his morphing into Johnson. He has made the program his own to such an extent, that I now think of TMS as 'Aggers and friends' - no mean feat at all, considering I thought he was hopeless when he started.

Cozier is a welcome addition although I think when paired with Sir Viv it can become too much of a Windies 'love in' - Viv can be quite a curmudgeon at times too, but lacks the sense of humour to carry it off.

Stewart is OK and growing into the role, but I do miss Marks' gentle humour.

Sir Geoff continues to be Sir Geoff and despite his repeated digs at Agnew, is still a prescient summariser.

Vaughan has surprised me with his willingness to criticise what were his team mates until relatively recently. I was expecting an old boys love in with him, but far from it. He also has a wicked sense of humour which Agnew manages mainly to deflect attention from, but which poor old Henry totally misses.

As for the 'B' team of Mann, White et al, I think Selvey was right. I do miss Selvers; a miserable old sod, but he was so often right.

[Shrewn]

I don't know whether Blowers is partial to the odd drop or two, but I noticed during the morning and early afternoon sessions he was fine, by 5 or 6 pm he was rambling to say the least!
I like him, it's not like he's on all the time, but other than that I think the program is sounding strong at the moment

[steelbock]

I listened most of the day and didn't hear him make many mistakes. People have been saying he should go for years but I think it's good to have one commentator of his type.

Aggers is always a good listen. Cozier not the most exciting but a professional commentator. I thought Manners was on the A list but hasn't featured this season even with CMJ off. Is he doing other things?

[cloudwarrior]

Seems that CMj is/has been quite ill...

"In it he wrote of his slow recovery from illness, which has involved chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a series of seven operations. He won’t, he says, be able to attend the first Test at Lord’s next week, but is looking forward to watching it on TV, with great anticipation: “Never, truly, have I so looked forward to a Test match.”"

taken from
http://www.legsidefilth.com/?m=201205

and dated the 15th May 2012.

I am also starting to get irritated by Blowers

Get well soon CMJ.

[wns_195]

What's the reason for the audio quality on Sports Extra for the second test? It sounded right in the first test.

[The Difference]

Originally Posted by steelbock

I thought Manners was on the A list but hasn't featured this season even with CMJ off. Is he doing other things?

He does some football commentary work these days, commentating on occasional Eredivise games for ESPN UK and Argentinian Primera Division matches for Premier Sports and Setanta Ireland. He also reports on the odd English league fixture for Radio 5 Live although I'm sure his involvement on TMS would pull rank above that (and probably his TV work too). I know he also aspires to be a stand up comic although I'm not sure how serious he is about this and how successful he's been on the comedy circuit so far.

Hopefully we'll hear him as the summer goes on and Christopher Martin-Jenkins too for that matter. Get well soon CMJ.

[Shrewn]

Sending good wishes to CMJ.

Simon Mann a stand up comic? He is quite deadpan, more Jack Dee than Johnny Vegas I would have thought!