The need of storytellers in cricket commentary

Storytelling is an art, an art which goes beyond explaining only the proceedings of the game, its an art of eloquently describing the circumstances which lead to the events in the game, an art which forms a bridge between the emotions of the fans and players. A beautiful storyteller has the effect of hypnosis on the viewer, he doesn’t know when he slowly gets carried away in the ebbs and flows of the commentary and gets entrenched to the game.

It was by no means an exaggeration that Tony Cozier was called the voice of West Indian cricket. In an era when the tall and lanky West Indian seamers were intimidating the batsmen around the globe and the style and swagger of Caribbean batsmen were dismantling the opposition bowling, Cozier remained behind the mike and gave viewers the pleasure they couldn’t attain even if they viewed the game live. Such was the impact of the man that he encapsulated the whole Caribbean culture in his array of words and remained the voice of the islands for years.

Storytelling should remain important in modern day cricket

Modern day viewers are blessed to witness some of the best technical innovations in the game. The graphics that we see in the modern day game seem unreal at times but offer an ocean full of knowledge to the viewers.

However, current commentators need to remain wary of not getting carried away by the technology. The narration the events in a beautiful way still remains superior to the wonderful analytic tools.

Though there are numerous fans of the modern fast paced music but the old Kishore Kumar melodies still hold their own. Analytics and graphics are a blessing and a wonderful gift of today’s technology but they remain pale in the absence of storytelling.

A great commentator can make the proceedings of the test match seem like reading a novel to the viewer. The viewer must feel that every day of a test match brings with itself a new chapter of the novel, a young fan might not understand the technicalities of the game but a storyteller can bind him to the game through his web of words.

The door must remain open for nonplayer commentators

Some of the best storytellers in the game have been nonplayer commentators. Harsha Bhogle, Tony Cozier were the reasons behind many young fans getting attached to the game.

It is not only the technical knowledge that they bring to the table but it is also about the storytelling of the events that lead to the particular incidents in the game that make them so special.

Recently there was a session by Harsha Bhogle on a famous question and answer website and there was a question that ‘Is there a path today for aspiring young non-player commentators into international cricket in India and/or elsewhere’? Harsha’s reply to the question was ‘Sadly no, as things stand. Though I disagree with the current approach’.

Though it is not necessary that player commentators don’t make great storytellers but the memories of a fan that a nonplayer commentator brings, makes up for a great storyteller. Most of us would fathom the logic of a subject quickly when told by a friend than by the subject teacher, it is because we relate to our friend much more easily.

Listening to a nonplayer commentator gives us the feel that someone from amongst us is describing the events from a close proximity to the ground.

Commentators who have played the game ought to have more technical knowledge of the game but as they have devoted the whole of their life playing sports, sometimes they miss out on the joys that a fan experiences viewing the game from outside. Imagine hustling for a seat to witness Sachin’s 200 test match and then witnessing his emotional speech in the ambiance of Wankhede.

The indelible experience will remain in your heart forever and then once you are in the commentary seat at another such moment, you will be able to describe it much more eloquently. The game is not only about the fours and sixes, it's also about the emotions of the players and fans and a commentator must amalgamate them to form an intriguing story.