Christopher Martin-Jenkins dies aged 67

Very sad news. I grew up with radio commentators who were professional broadcasters but who loved cricket- John Arlott, Jonners, Alan Gibson, Don Mosey. Although they didn't have personal experience of playing at the top level, their knowledge of the game and wonderful, distinctive voices brought the radio commentary to life. CMJ was the last of that great group and with his passing an era has ended.

While Greig was the Sky Sports publicist CMJ was the beauty that is the BBC low key self effacing but a true professional & down to earth knowledgeable man... I grew up with him, Peter Baxter, Brian Johnson, Henry Blofeld, Trueman, Mosey, Bailey etc etc... Christopher was a true British Broad Caster and was everything I love about the game, its Englishness and all of its idiosyncrasies... so saddened by your parting... a void that cannot be filled is left gaping... farewell to the very last of the beautiful amateurs x

Cricket is a unique game in the modern world, one that has unmatched historical context and hallowed traditions; one that's followed purely for its innate beauty. Few were as true to these traditions as CMJ. What a tragedy for the cricket world to lose two of its great personalities in a matter of days, at about the same age, to the same dread disease.

Posted by   on (January 1, 2013, 18:17 GMT) - Featured comment

Grew to really appreciate CMJ over the years. Often said very little outside of a description and didn't add personal bias or unwarranted editorial. Let the "celeb" commentator (often a recently retired ex player) say a lot more than he did, and when Christioher interjected it was with something really worth listening to. Another sad day for cricket.

Chris was a great statesmen. His commentaries were unbiased and it was a treat to listen. We all will miss his voice.I remember watching him commentating in Sri Lanka during the first inaugural test against England. Too sad to hear two cricketing personalities leaving us in quick succession.( Tony and Chris)

Posted by   on (January 1, 2013, 17:25 GMT) - Featured comment

When growing up, my abiding memory of CMJ was his legendary TV commentary of Botham's Ashes turning inns at Headingley , 81. The commentary has become almost become as famous as the inns itself - and there can be no higher compliment than that. His death is another huge loss to cricket media following on from Tony Greig...in many ways they were 2 polar opposites, but each contributed to & conveyed their love of cricket, in their own unique way. They will both be sorely missed, for without them the level of modern day cricket commentary deteriorates further

Posted by   on (January 1, 2013, 17:24 GMT) - Featured comment

A sad couple of days for international cricket. Here, within days, we lose one who helped give birth to `lights, colour and action' and the latter - one of the most prolific writers that the game has known. I am particularly saddened by the loss of Mr. Martin-Jenkins. Way back in January 1990, when he was the editor of The Cricketer International magazine, Chris accepted and published a profile of the West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding titled "Farewell to `Whispering Death'" which I had written.

Thank you CMJ for the countless hours of enjoyment and entertainment on TMS - even whilst he was away from the microphone! I loved the stick that Aggers would give CMJ over his poor time-keeping - wonderfully consistent! The best CMJ story has to be when he tried to make a call from his NZ hotel room - he apparently wrestled with the technology for about 15 minutes, before realising it was a TV remote control!! A true gentleman, a TMS legend, a cricketing moral compass and a friend to every true cricket lover around the world, we shall all miss him.

A very eloquent highly professional cricket commentator and writer in the English language, like so many well polished English cricket broadcasters were from the bygone eras of cricket broadcasting in England on TMS. I think only Henry Blofeld is the only one left standing from from that old style of Test Match Special cricket broadcasting in England. These were Brits who spoke the Queen's English perfectly on the radio. That's if you like that style of commentary. I first heard him when I was living a couple of years in Sri Lanka back in the 1980s. Sri Lanka were playing their inaugural historic Test Match at Lord's in 1984, can remember listening to BBC TMS broadcast live from London and his voice along with Brian Johnstone's crackling over the Shortwave on our Japanese made SW radio while I was in Colombo in 1984. Another famous cricket broadcaster has died along with Tony Greig in Australia. RIP Christopher Martin Jenkins and RIP Tony Grieg.

Whilst I lived in London for 25 years, I always enjoyed listening to CMJ, and now that I reside in Toronto, whenever I get the chance, I listen or watch cricket on TV or the computer, and when England are playing, and CMJ happens to be in the commentary team, it brings back fond memories. He will be sorely missed. He was a wonderful personality, and the world has truly lost a very nice person. May his dear soul RIP. My sincere condolences to his family, and friends, who I hope will find some small solace in knowing that his loss will certainly be shared by millions of fans all around the world.