Sport Broadcasting

The craft of commentary

Richard Asher commentating on international cricketRichard Asher commentating on international cricket
  • Commentating on international cricket with Guerilla Cricket since early 2023
  • Radio journalism graduate and former BBC newsreader
  • Commentated trackside for FIA Formula E Championship
  • Available for cricket, rugby, motorsport and golf

I got hooked on Formula 1 by Murray Walker and James Hunt, just as Keith Huewen and Julian Ryder got me into the two-wheelers. I learned entire languages (Afrikaans, mainly) by listening to cricket commentary on the radio. One of the most solid references you’ll find for me (it's on my LinkedIn profile) is from cricket commentator Neil Manthorpe, whose style has always made listening a pleasure. In short, good sports commentary has been highly influential in my life. Given my knowledge, memory and passion for sports, I’ve always thought I could do a decent job myself too.

In the summer of 2020, I made my cricket commentary debut for the European Cricket Network. It was a pleasure to have a like-minded partner for this - here's a short highlights reel.

But there were other commentary incidents before cricket too! I was the trackside commentator for test sessions of the FIA Formula E Championship at Donington Park in 2014 and 2015 – the former was the first public appearance for a series that continues to thrive. I was also commentator for the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire in 2003.

Earlier, whilst working for my university radio station as part of my journalism course, I hosted my own weekly sports show for two years, hitting the road to report from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 and the South African Motorcycle Grand Prix in 2001.

A year or two later, I was reading the sports news on the BBC World Service. There's a snippet of that in my CV video, which you'll find on the home page.

© 2024 All rights reserved