F.Y.I.

Cricket legend Glenn McGrath joins Fairfax Radio Network’s cricket commentary team

Fairfax Radio has added former cricketer Glenn McGrath to its commentary team of cricket legends.

The announcement:

Fairfax Radio Network’s commentary team of cricket legends and experts will be expanded this year to welcome another superstar in Glenn McGrath, who will join the team along with former Australian fast bowler Carl Rackemann.

McGrath, widely considered as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history, holds the world record for the highest number of Test wickets (563) by a fast bowler and is fourth on the all-time list behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619).

Among his many achievements, McGrath also holds the record for the most wickets in the Cricket World Cup (71 from 39 matches).  He marked the end of his one-day career at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, where he won the Player of the Series award for his outstanding bowling, which was instrumental in Australia’s win. He was inducted into ICC Hall of Fame in January 2013.

Rackemann, who made his Fairfax Radio Network commentary debut in the Australia-England one-day international at the Gabba last summer, will have a more prominent role with the Fairfax Radio Network team in 2014-15, commentating on many Big Bash League games, including all Brisbane Heat matches at the Gabba, and a selection of international fixtures on the eastern seaboard.

A legend of Queensland cricket, Rackemann played 12 Tests and 52 one-day internationals for Australia in an injury-plagued career between 1982 and 1991, and at first-class level took 616 wickets from 167 matches.

Tom Moody, the former Australian all-rounder, two-time World Cup winner, former coach of Sri Lanka and current director of cricket at the Melbourne Renegades, will also have an increased role in the commentary team.

McGrath and Rackemann join Fairfax Radio Network’s expert commentary team of former Australian skipper Ian Chappell, former Test and one-day run-machine Dean Jones, former Test and one-day international star Damien Fleming, former Australian all-rounder Greg Matthews, former England captain John Emburey and former Australian coach Mickey Arthur.

The ball-by-ball coverage across all forms of the game will be anchored by broadcasting icon Tim Lane, Bruce Eva, Head of Fairfax Radio Cricket and the doyen of English commentators Henry Blofeld.

“If our listeners thought Fairfax Radio’s summer of cricket coverage was captivating in its inaugural year, this season it will be even stronger with the addition of Glenn McGrath to our team. We are thrilled with the depth of experience and talent of our commentary team, which makes our network a true cricket destination,” Eva said.

Fairfax Radio Network’s 2014-15 cricket coverage begins with the Australia vs South Africa International T20 match on 5th November 2014 at the Adelaide Oval and will cover the entire cricket season.

Fairfax Radio Network has a five year broadcast rights agreement for the Australian cricket seasons that delivers the most comprehensive radio broadcast coverage of live cricket in Australia.

Year two of this landmark five year broadcast deal will see Fairfax Radio Network broadcast the four Test matches (Australia vs India), all One Day Internationals, Big Bash League (BBL) and International T20 matches, providing sports fans unprecedented access to live cricket.  Fairfax Radio Network will have the most comprehensive live coverage on radio, broadcasting all formats of the game.

For the summer ahead, Australia will be aiming to improve its No. 2 ranking in Test cricket, and begin its preparations for the Cricket World Cup in 2015. Australia will play South Africa in three T20s and five one-day internationals, India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a four Test series, and then England and India in a one-day international Tri-Series.

Source: Fairfax Radio media release

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