John Arlott's Cricketing Wides, Byes and Slips!

Compilation of moments from his career, from the 1940s to the 1980s. 1 CD, running time: 1 hour.

John Arlott is widely regarded as the 'voice of cricket'. He first tried his hand at broadcasting in 1945, when, working as a police sergeant, he gave a public radio address on behalf of the police to George VI on VE Day. This brought him to the attention of the BBC, and the following year he took up the position of Overseas Literary Producer. He was asked to commentate on the first two matches of the 1946 Indian tour, and this was the beginning of a career as a cricketing commentator that was to last 34 years. He covered every home Test Match from 1946 to his retirement in 1980, and in 1968 became the Guardian's cricketing correspondent, a role he performed for the next twelve years. The same year, he became President of the Cricketers' Association. He was awarded an OBE in 1970 and Honorary Life Membership of the MCC in 1980. He died in 1991.