Alan McGilvray

Alan David McGilvray AM MBE, (6 December 1909, Paddington, Sydney - 17 July 1996, Darlinghurst, Sydney) was a former cricketer who played several first-class seasons for New South Wales in the mid-1930s before becoming the doyen of cricket commentators in Australia. He became identified as the voice of Australian cricket through his ABC radio broadcasts.

McGilvray was educated at Newington College (1923-24) [Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 131] and Sydney Grammar School. His radio commentary career spanned over 50 years, starting in an era where the only communications between England and Australia were ball-by-ball telegraph cables which were embellished with sound effects and commentary to give an impression of being at the game. The technique was first used in 1934 and became known as synthetic cricket broadcasts. By the 1938 Ashes series in England, short wave reception to Australia had improved significantly and commentary started moving to conventional broadcasting.

An example of his distinctive commentary style is as follows:

Farnes turns, runs in bowling to Bradman, it's a ball well-pitched. Bradman moves forward, drives, Compton at cover tries to cut it off, he's beaten by the pace of the ball and it races away for another four. APPLAUSE. Four more to Bradman, taking his score to 101, a century in 130 minutes, a glorious innings by us and Australia is now building herself into a very sound position, assisted by a great knock by Bradman. [ [http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2002/sportsf/s590482.asp Web Archive Copy: Sports Factor: Blowing the Whistle on World Cup Referees ] ]

As well as editing numerous ABC Cricket books McGilvray wrote a number of cricket books himself including:
*"The Game is Not the Same" (1985) ISBN 0-7153-8858-4
*"The Game Goes On" (1987) ISBN 0-642-53066-1
*"Alan McGilvray's Backpage of Cricket" (1989)
*"Alan McGilvray - a Lifetime in Cricket" ISBN 0-642-17829-1
*"Captains of the Game" (1992)

McGilvray was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1974 and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1980. On his retirement in 1985 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Prime Minister Bob Hawke made a farewell speech after which McGilvray received a standing ovation from the crowd.

ee also

* List of cricket commentators

External links

* [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6561.html Cricinfo article on Alan McGilvray]
* [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/59656.html Cricinfo bio on Alan McGilvray]

References