Voices at the Test
SIR,—The final Test Match at the Oval was a test of nerves—at least for those who listened to the commentators in the Light and Television programmes. .I find myself engaged in the most violent controversy with my friends about the merits and demerits of theie eminent persons, and I cannot think of a better tribunal to decide such important questions than the readers of the Spectator. They (I earnestly trust) will be free from the appalling prejudices, the perfectly shocking taste, and the unbelievably childish and perverse notions of those of my friends who differ from me. One of the latter, for example, actually went the length of saying that he thought John Arlott was the best of then and received quite a lot of support. This was really too much ; it positively inflamed me. I hope I do not exaggerate if I say that John Arlott has the power to cast a gloom over the whole of my listening life. I believe that Truth hath a quiet breast ; but John Arlott doesn't think so. It is the unasting, unceasing, voracious appetite for detail —the umpire's age, achievements in days past, hat, boots and the flap of his white coat, the size of the policeman's boots as he sits by the sight screen, the habits of pigeons and sparrows, the impressions of natural beauty at the Oval (of all places), the 'bedrooms at Todmorden, the piece of stray paper that Dai Davies picks up, and an infinity of things like these—thatgets my, if I may be forgiven the expression, goat. And interspersed with this bewildering detail come sentences which sound like this: BedserisjustcominginhebowlsRowanmiddlesitComptonisonitina flashandflicksittoBrennanwhoretumsitgracefullytoBedser ; or dialogue like this: ." Oh dear! that ball gave a distinct pop. Can it be that a spot has developed ? I'd better take Arthur Gilligan's opinion about that. Arthur, was I wrong in thinking that that last ball gave a distinct pop ? "'" No, John, you were quite right. — It was certainly a pop, and I think you may safely say it was a distinct pop." "Thanks, Arthur, very much." "Not at all, John."
And so over to Charles Fortune. I always expect 'Mr. Fortune to begin with " Dearly beloved brethren," but this sense of cathedral quiet comes, I am sure, from- the contrast with John Arlott. He conveys an atmosphere of reflective deliberation, of impartial judgement and sound cricket sense. , Rex Alston has a very pleasant voice and manner, but sometimes sounds a shade too self-assured. I feel I should like to read to him the letter -Cromwell wrote to the General Assembly of the Church of...Scotland. E. W. Swanton always seems to have the most perfect cricket knowledge, and his manifest desire to be of help to the listener comes through unmistakably in his kindly voice. But he is a better writer than a broadcaster, for he is too hesitant in his speech, and frequently makes, the listener feel he would like to help him out. For mysilf, I would give pride of place to Brian Johnston, for voice, manner and matter. But this is a purely personal choice, and I am much influenced by the fact that he betrays his humanity at critical moments: His confession that his nerve was going, and his speculation whether he could last out, exactly expressed my own suffering at the time, and when he exclaimed, quite involuntarily as it seemed, " No, no, Jim ; there was never a--run there " when the batsman moved out of his crease, he. endeared himself to me very greatly.
Sir, I very well know what is wanted, and I see so plainly how far short the commentators fall from the ideal that I am sometimes tempted to write to the B.B.C. and offer my services ; but before doing that I should like to be fortified by the opinions of the readers of the Spectator. It may turn out that I am simply an old-fashioned,eranky,-bad-tempered, ignorant, silly old fool ; and I am bound to add in all frankness that this morning my liver is not behaving as it should.—Yours faithfully, JAMES. OVERTHROW:
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