TMS coverage of the first Test
You may remember that the last time we broadcast from Hamilton the Test Match Special team were positioned towards the top of a rather shaky 100-foot scaffold, which rather disturbingly started to shake whenever anyone made their way to the top of the metal stairs at the side.
One person you may remember who didn't make that journey was Sir Ian Botham who refused to commentate for Sky television from the top. "I'll go in helicopters and planes but they're meant to fly - commentary boxes aren't!" he said.
Well Sir Ian will be much happier this week as the new TV box is situated just one small flight of stairs from terra firma. As for the TMS team well we have been promoted to a portable structure a little closer to ground level, but it may still test the nerve of any of our team who have any kind of problems with vertigo.
However, we do get a pretty good view of what is a very attractive ground where many of the spectators will be gathering on the grass verges to follow the action.
Braving the heights in Hamilton to bring you ball-by-ball commentary will be Jonathan Agnew, New Zealand broadcaster Bryan Waddle and Christopher Martin-Jenkins. CMJ is covering his final tour as the chief cricket correspondent of the Times before handing the baton to Mike Atherton, but, don't worry, Christopher will remain an integral part of the Test Match Special commentary team.
Offering expert analysis throughout the Test Match will be Geoff Boycott who toured New Zealand twice as a player, captaining the side in three Tests back in 1978. I suspect he'll be mentioning the 174-run victory at Christchurch rather more than the 72-run defeat at Wellington in that series.
TMS favourite Vic Marks will also be with us in Hamilton. Vic toured New Zealand as an England player in 1984, taking part in a high-scoring Test draw in Auckland. Vic also played six one-day internationals in this country, including a haul of five wickets for just 20 runs during an ODI in Wellington which stood as an England record analysis for many years in limited overs internationals.
And completing the TMS team at Seddon Park will be the former Middlesex fast bowler . One of the favourite pursuits of the travelling press pack in New Zealand is watching Gus performing heroically in the Beach Cricket tournament which is currently being shown on television over here.
Angus was part of the England all-star side which took on Australia and New Zealand in a series of matches on various Australian beaches earlier this year. The England team was captained by fellow TMS summariser Graham Gooch and although the final is yet to be shown out here I am told it features England against New Zealand - so I will have to wait to see if Angus helped England regain the trophy.
I did ask Gus if he would be playing the beach cricket again next year and he told me that the tournament organisers were very keen for him to take part again. "They said I was box offfice, because I kept going round the park!"
Bill Frindall unfortunately did not get the call to do the scoring at the beach cricket tournament, but the "Bearded Wonder" will be on duty for TMS here in New Zealand.
As well as ball by ball commentary there will be plenty to listen out for during the intervals. Among the highlights will be a special tribute to Adam Gilchrist, who makes his final appearance for Australia this week, and a debate on the effect of the Indian Premier League on the world game and, of course, we want you to get involved via e-mail to tms@bbc.co.uk, via text on 84040 or with contributions to the TMS blog.
They're also be lots of special guests joining us in the Test Match Special commentary box, including New Zealand legend Sir Richard Hadlee, new England selector James Whitaker and ECB chairman Giles Clarke.
We will also be hearing from Darren Gough on how he'll be dancing to help Sport Relief, fascinating thoughts from England's discarded wicket-keeper Matt Prior and Kevin Howells will be rounding up all the news from the county circuit including a chat with Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton on the battle against the floods.
Test Match Special will be on the air on Tuesday night from 2100 GMT on Five Live Sports Extra, Radio Four Longwave and online (UK Listeners only).
If you can't be with us throughout the night… you will be able to catch up on the days play and all the best reaction by downloading the daily TMS Podcast with Jonathan Agnew and Geoff Boycott. Aggers will also be offering his thoughts at close of play here on the TMS Blog and keep checking bbc.co.uk/cricket for behind the scenes gossip and photographs.
Plus why not try the TMS text commentary while you are listening to the programme or if you are listening online or via digital television you can access our fantastic interactive service with up to the second scorecards, wagon wheels and other information.
As well as Test Match Special there will also be updates from Seddon Park every 15 minutes on Five Live with Alison Mitchell and the former England all-rounder , who made his Test match debut in New Zealand and has lived in this country for the last three years. Reeve has been keeping a close eye on New Zealand cricket in his time over here and will be able to offer a fascinating insight.
So there is no excuse not to keep in touch with events in New Zealand. Let's hope our aerial TMS commentary box stays in tact for the full five days!
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Small point of interest - you will find out if Angus helped England reTain the trophy, after the magnificent exploits of Robin Smith & co last year!
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heavy rain here in hamilton today, with the humidity tomorrow the toss is vital to win.
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When will the 91Èȱ¬ try and get the rights to broadcast Englan cricket matches on TV?
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Adam
Please try and proof-read:
"the day's play" and "intact".
And yes, it does matter!
Aidan
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I'm getting a lot of whistle and hum on the Internet feed of the live TMS commentary (- don't have a digital radio around to check the broadcast quality unfortunately).
Is it just me, or are there technical gremlins somewhere?
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i have only recently found the delights of an email. i listen to tms as often as i can and a few months ago geoff was struggling to remember the name of johnny wardles nightclub just outside thorne nr doncaster. it was called the ponderosa which has now turned into a golf club. i used to be pals with johnnys grandson steven (who i havnt seen for 20yrs or more. best wishes steve if you listen )and as kids we used to sneak into the kitchens and always managed to come away with an iccream or two. hope this jogged your memory geoff
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commentary on bbc test match special 07/03/08 23:02GMT:
Geoffrey Boycott ASKED a question.
yes; He who professes: "how He would do it" actually ASKED a question.
has his "I" problem cleared up?
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For God's sake. You call yourselves educated men!
The song was "My Baby Just Cares for Me" by Nina Simone and it is superb.
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What a strangely mixed day - Bath beat Newcastle (+ve); England lost to Scotland (-ve) Man Utd lost to Portsmouth (-ve); Coventry beat Norwich (+ve)....so the New Zealand v England game is the tie-breaker for my night!
Al
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Now in my final PhD year at cambridge i'm sitting in my college room writing my thesis and staying up until 6am listening to your excellent coverage.
It was very refreshing to see ambrose bat in a way that alec stewart often did when batting down the order for england. thinking of england's past keepers and searching google's resources for articles relating to godfrey evans i found an interesting piece. mike selvey described seeing him keep years after retirement and the impression made. 'an education to watch'. we often compare bowlers and batsmen of the modern and past eras but what about the standard of keeping?
Sam
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