For Tony Greig

My last post was about missing the joy I derived out of Cricket because of absence of Sachin Tendulkar. Another person, who made the Cricket a delight for me was Tony Greig. For a long time, I had thought that he was an Australian, since he appeared so similar to them in many ways. Then, after few years, I learned from my father that he was a former English captain. Even later, I learned that he was actually a South African. 

There have been many great commentators. Richie Benaud sits right at the top. But I saw very less of English and Australian cricket during an impressionable age to be able to admire his voice and insights. For me, it was always Tony Greig, a constant presence in the commentary boxes of India and Sharjah. He made Cricket far more exciting than it actually was.

One can appreciate how good the commentary was only a few years back when one could hear some of the most intelligent voices in world cricket - Tony Greig, Richie Benaud, Tony Cozier etc. These days, one has to bear with the mouth pieces of BCCI - Laxman Shivaramakrishnan, Sanjay Manjrekar, and Ravi Shastri. If not for anything else, BCCI should be sued for making the viewers listen to such pathetic commentary.

Some days, I watch old Cricket clippings just to hear Tony Greig. After Sachin, it's him I miss the most. 

P.S. This absolutely gem of a tribute from Richie Benaud for Tony Greig.