Ray
Something I'm pretty sad about is that he has died.
ActionArnie
Sad news indeed
chris77
Indeed. Never watched him play, but really enjoyed his commentary. :'(
Bob-Dubery
There's a broad range of opinion about Greig's commentary. One thing I recall is that he was very good at "reading" Shane Warne.
He was on limited time anyway. He was suffering from lung cancer. The heart attack probably saved him and his family drawn out suffering and anguish.
He was an interesting cricketer. When writing or talking about cricket, as opposed to actual commentating, Greig was regarded as "outspoken". That same attitude, during his playing days, was equally likely to be described in terms such as "arrogant", "reckless" and "mad".
He was instrumental in setting up World Series Cricket, which made him persona non grata for the establishment. Some would argue that he was a key figure in a series of events which resulted in a significant increase in pay for cricketers (whose earnings are still some way short of soccer players). Others would call him a deceitful plotter. He was that kind of guy - always dividing opinions.
Some years ago I heard Garth le Roux talk at the Cricket Society of SA, and he spent some time talking about Grieg. Grieg had been his captain during World Series Cricket, for the "Rest of the World" team. During one match for ROW against the West Indies, Colin Croft was in full fiery form and hitting and hurting lots of batsmen. Grieg is next in and padded up and watching on the TV in the dressing room. He takes a good look at Croft on the TV and says "he's chucking. And when I get in I'm going to tell him he's chucking and it's about time he stopped".
Le Roux is not keen on this and says so. Croft seems to be a in fairly good mood. Now Grieg wants to wind him up, when le Roux will be next in. He tells Greig that the last thing they want is a really angry Croft steaming in with intent to inflict even more serious pain.
Greig ignores him and carries on with his analysis: "And look! He's overstepping. I'm going to tell him to get behind the line and stay there."
Shortly thereafter not one but two wickets fall in quick succession. Greig and Le Roux both go out to bat in an over during which Croft is not balling. At the end of the over Croft gets the ball again. Greig walks up to him and says "Look here, you're chucking. You can't bowl well when you bowl legally". Croft's eyes start rolling and Le Roux starts to dread what's coming next. But Greig's not finished yet. "And you're overstepping. If you keep your arm straight and you stay behind that line I'm going to hit you out of the park." Croft was nearly homicidal with rage, but the next ball went for four.
This was not actually atypical for Greig, nor was it simple provocation for it's own sake. He knew he was a better back foot than front foot player, and he played the hook shot well. He'd once deliberately riled Lillee and Thomson, knowing that they would try to knock his block off and backing himself to take on the short ball. It worked, and at lunch Ian Chappell had to have a word with Lillee and Thommo and tell them to stop playing to Greig's strength.
An interesting cricketer, as well as a mercenary. He was involved in some of the most seismic events in the game. The Aussies loved him because he was a scrapper. Indian crowds loved him because he understood pageantry and had the common touch. When he wasn't getting up the opposition's nose he could turn on considerable charm.
Bob-Dubery
Here's a nice tribute to Greig from one of the players on the famous 76/7 tour to India.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/dec/30/tony-greig-cricket-great
Bob-Dubery
What's starting to come back into focus is Greig's playing career. It's often overshadowed by other aspects of his career, and for a while he was a hiss and a byword in England. But he was bloody good. In 58 tests he averaged over 40 with the bat (pretty good during his playing career) and just over 32 with the ball. It's worth remembering that he was picked as a player first and became captain later. He probably wouldn't have lasted much longer because one IT Botham was starting to make headlines. Greig solved a looming selection conundrum for England by signing up with Kerry Packer and thus ruling himself out of selection. Botham ended up with a better bowling average but a less batting average (though for a short while he was one of a handful of players who was capable of winning a game with bat or ball). Greig could also bowl spin as well as fast-medium, indeed his best test bowling performance came in the West Indies when he changed to spin and took 13 wickets in the match.
One of the benefits of all the eulogising and reminiscing that's going on is that we get a more complete picture of the man.
Bob-Dubery
Lovers of cricket and cricket journalism will be saddened by the death today of Christopher Martin Jenkins, one of the best.
Tokai-SA
Sad news, RIP, Tony.
Busy listening to him commentate right now as I re watch the greatest one day game of all time, the famous Wanderers game...it's been on SS2 the entire day.
His commentary voice will be etched in my memory forever.
Let's not forget, he was a South African.
