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Tony Cozier: West Indian commentator dies aged seventy five mythical West Indian commentator Tony Cozier has died at the age of 75.

A familiar and respected voice around the arena, the Barbadian will be remembered for a TV, radio, and journalism career spanning fifty-eight years.

Tony Cozier

Born in Bridgetown in 1940, he made his BBC test a healthy unique debut in 1966 and wrote numerous books.

“Tony become the master of going among TV and radio ball-via-ball statement. He was the grasp of each,” stated BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew.

“He’s without difficulty the first-class I’ve come upon in 25 years at being capable of doing each discipline.”

Barbara Slater, director of BBC game, said: “Tony may be remembered with fondness through everybody on the BBC.

“On account of his test unique debut 50 years ago this summer season, Tony has been a totally popular commentator at the programmed during suits against West Indies and for the duration of many important tournaments.

“His voice became one of the maximum recognizable in the game, and he may be alas ignored. We pass our condolences to his own family and friends.”

The son of a journalist, Cozier studied journalism at Carlton University in Ottawa, Canada, and started commentating and writing on West Indian cricket in 1958.

He played hockey as a goalkeeper for Barbados and cricket as a gap batsman and wicketkeeper for two Barbados golf equipment, Wanderers and Carlton.

however, he became a family call via his work with major media organizations at some point globally, together with the BBC, Channel 9, and Sky.

In December 2011, he was offered honorary lifestyles’ membership of the Marylebone Cricket membership for services to the game. The media center at the Pennington Oval in Barbados is named after him.
‘The right soundtrack to any cricket suit’

check suit unique commentator Jonathan Agnew

“Tony Cozier was one of the finest writers and broadcasters in the sport. He commenced reporting in 1958, and 7 years later, he hit the airwaves for the first time.

Tony Cozier and Tino Best
“Fifty years on, he became nevertheless commentating on test healthy special while England toured the West Indies.

“For the duration of his career, Cozier needed to tread the anxious tightrope of Caribbean politics, where even the slightest bad statement of a player’s overall performance can initiate a furious nationalistic backlash.

“He withstood this stoically and determinedly, ultimately a sturdy critic of the West Indies Cricket Board’s lack of agency and outlook.

“Tony moved seamlessly among television and radio packing containers during the arena, gleefully describing the West Indies’ domination of the Eighties, after which lamenting their subsequent demise.

“He becomes a wonderfully descriptive and disciplined commentator, his melodic Began accessory the precise soundtrack to any cricket suit.”
The West Indies view: ‘He spoke the truth.’

Former West Indies speedy bowler Michael maintaining informed BBC sport: “I spent a lot of hours with Tony Cozier. He loved lifestyles; he worshiped cricket and worshiped West Indies cricket. And he might take on people who tried to criticize West Indies cricket unfairly.”

Listen: Michael conserving and Jonathan Agnew pay tribute on BBC Radio 5 stays.

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Ex-Windies paceman Tino exceptional advised BBC game: “He turned into a parent that I clearly respected. Of course, human beings can be saddened, especially in Barbados and on the Wanderers cricket membership, because he becomes very influential there.

“We grew up with Tony. He changed into an outspoken individual. If he noticed you were not playing properly, he might speak about it. that’s what I respected about him. He was someone that by no means sugar-covered matters.

“Selectors did concentrate to him – he did get some guys dropped. But, it changed into in no way a hassle with me because he spoke the fact. He becomes a chunk harsh at times, but honest.”
‘Cricketing observation royalty’

test suit special manufacturer Adam Mount ford

“He had a voice which immediately transported you from anywhere you had been within the international to the solar-soaking wet seashores of Barbados.

“Tony, or Winston Anthony Lloyd Cozier to present him his complete call, changed into cricketing remark royalty. It changed into a privilege to percentage a statement container with him.

“He regarded on to take a look at healthy special for the primary time 50 years ago this summer at Headingley, the floor where the 2016 international season begins next week.

“Within the 50 years for the reason that that summer, Tony has become one of our most popular overseas commentators on test healthy unique, possessing one of the maximum recognizable voices in all broadcasting.

“He surely played an element in one of the maximum iconic moments in TMS history, even though he failed to actually say a phrase.

“All through the infamous ‘leg over’ incident which brought on such hilarity among Jonathan Agnew and Brian Johnston, Tony changed into certainly inside the nook of the statement box.

“He ought to have stepped in at any moment to interfere, however instead selected to watch on and allowed one among our most magical moments to play out.”