Ian Chappell quits commentary
Former Australian skipper and one of the most loved cricket commentators Ian Chappell has decided to quit commentary after 45 years.
Chappell appeared in 75 Test matches for Australia and amassed 5345 runs at a 42.2 average. He also played in 16 ODIs throughout the course of a career that lasted from 1971 to 1975.
Since his debut as a commentator in 1977, the 78-year-old batter has earned a reputation as one of the greatest in the field.
Chappell made this declaration in a chat with Sydney Morning Herald. “When it comes to commentary, I’ve been thinking about it. I had a minor stroke a few years back and I got off lucky. But it just makes everything harder. And I just thought with all the travel and, you know, walking upstairs and things like that, it’s all just going to get harder.” he said.
Together with Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, and Tony Greig, Chappell became a member of the unique voices team that provided the background for Australian cricket broadcasts for more than three decades.
As Ian Chappell made the decision to hang up the microphone and end his four-and-a-half decade commentary career, tributes began to flow in from the international cricket community.
Never pulled a punch,told it as it is, never talked down to anyone, wonderful professional & my role model for broadcasting work ethic. The great #IanChappell thinks it is time to retire from broadcasting. Was a privilege to work with him & I hope that proud voice is always heard
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 15, 2022
Sharing a couple of summers with Ian Chappell on @abcsport was an absolute honour. The stories, the yarns but ultimately brilliant company.
— Tim Verrall (@timverrall) August 16, 2022
“I remember the day when I knew I’d had enough of playing cricket. I looked at the clock and it was five past 11 on a day of play and I thought, ‘S**t, if you’re clock-watching at that time, I have to go,’ ESPNcricinfo quoted Ian Chappell as saying.
“So when it comes to commentary, I’ve been thinking about it. I had a minor stroke a few years back and I got off lucky. But it just makes everything harder. And I just thought with all the travel and, you know, walking upstairs and things like that, it’s all just going to get harder” he added.
“Then I read what Rabbits [legendary rugby league commentator Ray Warren] said with retirement and it really struck home when I read the bit where he said, ‘you’re always one sentence closer to making a mistake,” Chappell further added.
The 78-year old was known for speaking his heart out on matters pertaining to the game and not shying away from pulling his punches with the microphone in his hand and cricket in his eyes.
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