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Clayton Murzello: Farewell to a press box stalwart

Updated on: 17 August,2017 06:12 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Clayton Murzello | clayton@mid-day.com

Englishman Ted Corbett, who bid goodbye to life and cricket last week, wrote with style, grace and passion for readers the world over

Clayton Murzello: Farewell to a press box stalwart

Ted Corbett (left) with Pakistan umpires Shakoor Rana and Khizar Hayat at Faisalabad in 1988. Pic Courtesy/Cricket on the Run by Ted Corbett
Ted Corbett (left) with Pakistan umpires Shakoor Rana and Khizar Hayat at Faisalabad in 1988. Pic Courtesy/Cricket on the Run by Ted Corbett


Cricket writers from England are not the easiest to befriend. Ted Corbett was a refreshing exception, but sadly he will no longer make new friends, because the eternal scorer declared him out at 82 in Cambridgeshire, UK, last week.


Ted wrote for The Sportstar for a quarter of a century and his tour diaries took you beyond the greens, to the press box and even to airports where big cricket names mingled and stories were ferreted out.


In early 1999, he enlightened his Indian readers on how fast bowler Matthew Nicholson was contacted by a Perth airport official who asked him to ring the Australian Cricket Board office in Melbourne. Nicholson had to request a fellow passenger for his mobile to make the call during which he learnt that he was picked for the MCG Test against England because Jason Gillespie was injured.

Ted was a top-flight writer without an air about him and he'd never boast about which stars he collaborated with for newspaper columns unless you asked him. I'd known him well for 15 years but I only discovered he 'ghosted' for Fred Trueman, the first man to take 300 Test wickets, when I read Chris Waters' authorised biography of the late fast bowler.

When Trueman breathed his last on July 1, 2006, his wife Veronica telephoned Ted, who was at Leeds covering the England vs Sri Lanka one-day international, to deliver the news of his death. "Corbett rose to his feet in a crowded press box and solemnly announced the death of a legend," wrote Waters.

Dennis Lillee was another fast bowling legend Ted worked with. In his book Over and Out, which was published after his much-publicised farewell to Test cricket in 1984, Lillee wrote a chapter on cricket writers. He called it, The Press Gang.

After he ended his SWOT analysis on 24 Australian cricket writers, Lillee added: "So there you go, chaps. No hard feelings, eh? In passing, I would like to divert slightly to mention two English journalists whom I respect enormously - Ian Wooldridge, the London Daily Mail columnist - in my opinion the best - and Ted Corbett, of the Manchester Daily Star, a real professional, and along with Ian, one I consider a real friend."

Ravi Shastri called Ted a "nice guy" who he spent a lot of time with on his commentary tours to Sri Lanka with Tony Greig for company, while Harsha Bhogle tweeted, "Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ted Corbett. For a generation he provided a window to England cricket for The Sportstar and The Hindu."

England's 1987-88 tour of Pakistan was a memorable one for Ted. The first Test at Lahore was marred by umpiring controversies and Ted wanted to interview Shakoor Rana, who was to stand with Khizar Hayat for the next Test at Faisalabad. Rana promised Ted that he would meet him after the second day's play. The last over of that day's play would change cricketing relations between England and Pakistan forever. As Eddie Hemmings prepared to bowl to Salim Malik with Pakistan 106 for five, skipper Mike Gatting moved deep square leg fielder David Capel closer. Gatting claimed he hadinformed the batsman, but Rana,positioned at square leg, stopped the proceedings and called Gatting a cheat, while the Middlesex man abused the umpire. Play ended on a very bitter note. Up in the press box, Ted left his seat to meet Rana as per appointment. Rana's spiel provided good copy for Ted. "I will only go back on the field (for Day Three) if Gatting apologises," Rana told Ted.

In between several cups of tea with Rana in the umpires' room, Ted tried playing peacemaker the following day. In came England manager Peter Lush. "What the hell are you doing here," Lush asked Ted. Rana was incensed. "He is drinking tea with his friend," he told Lush, who then remarked, "You have no right to be here during a Test. I have never seen anything like it." Rana, who had taken a liking for Ted, was further agitated: "That man should not speak to a friend of mine like that. I don't see how anyone can make an agreement with him." Ted left the room and no peace was brokered, no sign of any cricket either. Ted filed his copy and the Daily Star headlined it: 'How our man Corbett almost saved Test'. The copy read: "I spent three hours yesterday in the umpires' room at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, trying to persuade one pig-headed man to apologise to an equally stubborn cricketer." Ted had urged Rana to go and shake Gatting's hand, but he didn't wilt.

Ultimately, cricket resumed on Day Four after Gatting scribbled an apology.

That was certainly not the last controversy Ted covered. When he was finished filing copies for various publications, Ted would throw in some gems in conversations that were always polite.

In retirement, he still enjoyed his sport on television and all those years never made him cynical. He was not a pessimist, but he did tell me in February 2016 that his weak heart wouldn't allow him to live for more than a year. He battled hard during his last days, but still found time to watch the recent Champions Trophy final on television. He won a friendly bet over a close friend. Ted had many friends, but none so dear as his partner Joanne King, the accomplished statistician and scorer. Ted and Jo spent many of their English winters on overseas cricket tours. There will be no cricket for her this winter; no Ted either.

mid-day's group sports editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance. He tweets @ClaytonMurzello. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com

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