Guerilla Cricket

Guerilla Cricket is an Internet radio site that broadcasts commentaries of cricket matches internationally, as a separate entity from those produced by official organisations such as the BBC. It was set up in 2014 up by alumni of Test Match Sofa, an earlier alternative commentary site.[1][2] Broadcasts have emanated from a variety of sites in London, where the commentators describe the television coverage to listeners, while engaging in wide ranging discussion of the cricket and anything else taking their fancy. While primarily focussed on England's international cricket matches, several other matches, particularly World Cup white ball cricket, have also been covered. Perhaps the most unusual coverage was of the Under 19 world cup game between England and Namibia.[3]

Guerilla Cricket is known for its sense of humour and surrealism, in sharp contrast to the formal nature of official broadcasts such as Test Match Special. Its method of operation puts it beyond the reach of the game's controlling body in England, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and it is unlikely that any current test players would be allowed to appear. [4] The site has benefited from social media in its commentary, unlike traditional, one-way, broadcasting, which allows an exchange of information.[5]

A fan of the site has been seen wearing a gorilla costume at matches.[6]

As well as providing cricket commentary, Guerilla Cricket also provided on-air coverage of the UK General Election 2015,[7] providing their usual irreverent, surreal views as the events unfolded that night. Key events were marked with musical jingles provided by James Sherwood who has provided a number of songs which are used within the cricket commentary, including the Guerilla Cricket theme tune.[8]

A number of appeals have enabled Guerilla Cricket to remain on-air and broadcast worldwide free commentary. In July 2015, the site ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise £3,000 to broadcast the 2015 Ashes series live from the Jetlag Bar in London.[9] A subsequent campaign the following winter raised over £5,000 to broadcast test series in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Test Match Sofa". BMC Sport. 22 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Live cricket commentary: South Africa vs England, Durban Day 1". The South African. 24 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016.
  3. ↑ Jez, Messy (12 February 2016). "Guerillas in the Night".
  4. ↑ Marozzi, Justin (29 July 2015). "Join the revolution to save cricket!". The Spectator.
  5. ↑ "How social media has changed the way cricket fans consume the game". Scroll.in. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "Pakistan vs England, Third Test: Taylor and Bairstow dig in". The Daily Telegraph. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  7. ↑ sherwoodjam (2015-05-06). "Election Night on Guerilla Cricket". SherwoodJam. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  8. ↑ "Guerilla Cricket, by James Sherwood". James Sherwood. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  9. ↑ "Guerilla Cricket Ashes Appeal". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  10. ↑ "Guerilla Cricket Winter Warmer". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2016-08-03.

External links

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