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Off-Topic => In The Hut => Topic started by: essexfan548 on May 13, 2026, 10:06:09 AM

Title: Essex match was the first BBC ball-by-ball covered
Post by: essexfan548 on May 13, 2026, 10:06:09 AM

Today's Guardian

"14 May 1927: Ninety-nine years ago on Thursday, the first BBC ball-by-ball coverage crackled on air. The experiment was low key coverage of Essex v the New Zealanders at Leyton by the Rev Frank Gillingham, who played for Essex between 1903 and 1928 whenever he wasn't in the pulpit. The BBC was unsure that the cricket would be interesting enough to sustain a whole programme, so his broadcasts, live from the pavilion balcony and sadly lost to posterity, were interleaved with the London Radio Dance Band.

'Deathly dull' was the verdict of the Western Daily Press, but there was enough promise for the Beeb to continue with the experiment snippets from the Roses game at Old Trafford, then the Test trial at Sheffield. Gillingham lost his commentary gig after displeasing Lord Reith by reading out the advertisements seen around the Oval. Ball by ball, however, would never look back."

Scroll down here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/13/oswestry-cc-boasts-10-mother-daughter-pairs-cricket-the-spin

Title: Re: Essex match was the first BBC ball-by-ball covered
Post by: vim on May 13, 2026, 10:34:54 AM

E W Swanton was featured in the BBC book, Armchair Cricket. Which was published in 1975, the first World Cup. He described a Test match commentary he did from South Africa, in the 1930s. There were only 30 minutes each day, and it so happened that he  was on the air, when there was a hat trick.

E W Swanton was celebrating 40 years in the Media. He went on to also celebrate, 50 and 60 years as well.