Post by Wicked Cricket on Aug 6, 2014 11:06:00 GMT
'The Media Centre' was crowded last night, particularly in the SKY commentary area, and who should walk in to the journo section
and sit down next to me but Nick Knight. An impromptu chat occurred.
Given how long you've been commentating for SKY and the number of matches covered, isn't it boring now?
It's still challenging. Every match is different. I love the game and feel lucky I am involved with it. I could be digging up roads as
a job.
Will Beer comes on to bowl. Knight has his say - a view held by most of the "SKY boys”.
He should go out on loan, to gain championship experience. A division 2 side like Leicestershire or Derbyshire - get hit for big runs
and learn from it. How can a spinner develop and mature from just playing white ball.
Has he missed playing cricket after retiring?
No. Of course I miss the buzz of playing in big games, at top grounds, against the best opposition. But that's my past. I have played
very little cricket since. I have no interest in playing for teams like 'Lashings'. I have another career now and enjoy it immensely.
Who's going to win the 'London Cup'?
From the teams I've seen so far, Yorkshire and Kent are strong contenders.
Are there any ambitions left?
I have always wanted to tend and look after a cricket pitch for a local village side. I fancy pootling around on a tractor mower. Pitches,
their condition, how to create, develop and sustain them has always fascinated me. In another life I might have been a groundsman.
He is quite serious and reminds one of that end scene in the film 'Spinal Tap' when the guitarist is asked what he might
have done apart from music. "Selling shoes" is his answer.
At this moment, Dominic Cork walks in and overhears the conversation. He starts taking the michael out of “groundsman Nick”.
It quickly becomes apparent he's the Jimmy Anderson of the SKY team. Knight is not too happy by this. This "banter" increases when
Nick attempts to find an alternative route back home as the A23 is closed at Handcross from 8pm to 6am throughout August due to the
incessant road widening works. Knight lives in Essex and needs to drive through the M25 Dartford Tunnel. Cork chides and teases him
as he attempts to find a new route via google. Some would say it was friendly banter others mild abuse. Nick leaves the room and Cork
usurps his chair.
Cork then attempts to be disarming and become one of the boys by rubbishing his job. "I spout nonsense most of the time. The key is to
sound confident when doing it." The problem being, coming from Cork, it could be interpreted as cynical and arrogant.
Then John Lees and his lovely radio producer/wife who both share a passion for bird watching, excitedly tell Cork a story about when on a
trip to Essex to see a rare booted warbler, they were glued to the radio listening to him and Gough scoring 31 runs for the 9th wicket to
win the 2nd Test at Lords against the West Indies in 2000. Cork struck 33*. Other twitchers could not understand why the two refused to budge
from their car until the early evening, as the rare warbler could fly away at anytime.
Cork listens bemused with apparent little understanding of their sacrifice.
Each SKY commentator has a cushy afternoon/evening. Just 3 commentary sessions of 8 overs each. Throw in the odd brief interview,
a presentation, or a summary of the day’s play and that’s it.
One's view of Nick Knight has changed. While occasionally he can be sneering and disdainful, there lyes a gentler part. He's a nice guy and
not afraid of showing his vulnerable side. And as the SKY commentary team walk around the county grounds with a sheen of imperiousness,
one presumes they share similar sentiments to Knight. They are damn lucky to have such a job - a job which appears to be for life.
During the match break, the Sky Polish catering truck chef Adam Zajfert had offered an invite to sample his dinner as thanks for a blog mention
a few weeks back. Tell you what, the SKY staff are spoilt rotten. The meal was delicious, the standard and quality SKY high. Adam would be sent
through to the next ‘Professional Masterchef’ round by Greg and John every time.
Menu:
Ham Leek pie
Thai Green
Chicken Curry
Swordfish Ratatouille
Spinach Mushroom pie
Chunky chips, rice, corn on the cob, butternut squash,
peas + an assortment of salads, breads, cheeses and fruit juices.
Toffee crunchy pie, lemon tart - cream, custard or raspberry coulis.
The SKY Staff Tuck in
A young SKY technical advisor agreed the food was delicious. Given many of the staff work 12 hour shifts, the catering delights are an essential
and integral part of their day. He went on to say that he had OD'd on cricket having watched so many games this season. He can be working
up to 6 days a week.
Finally, there seems few in the media camp who enjoy covering 50 over cricket. As one groaned, "The ECB have returned us to the dark ages and
we have 3 more years of this!”
and sit down next to me but Nick Knight. An impromptu chat occurred.
Given how long you've been commentating for SKY and the number of matches covered, isn't it boring now?
It's still challenging. Every match is different. I love the game and feel lucky I am involved with it. I could be digging up roads as
a job.
Will Beer comes on to bowl. Knight has his say - a view held by most of the "SKY boys”.
He should go out on loan, to gain championship experience. A division 2 side like Leicestershire or Derbyshire - get hit for big runs
and learn from it. How can a spinner develop and mature from just playing white ball.
Has he missed playing cricket after retiring?
No. Of course I miss the buzz of playing in big games, at top grounds, against the best opposition. But that's my past. I have played
very little cricket since. I have no interest in playing for teams like 'Lashings'. I have another career now and enjoy it immensely.
Who's going to win the 'London Cup'?
From the teams I've seen so far, Yorkshire and Kent are strong contenders.
Are there any ambitions left?
I have always wanted to tend and look after a cricket pitch for a local village side. I fancy pootling around on a tractor mower. Pitches,
their condition, how to create, develop and sustain them has always fascinated me. In another life I might have been a groundsman.
He is quite serious and reminds one of that end scene in the film 'Spinal Tap' when the guitarist is asked what he might
have done apart from music. "Selling shoes" is his answer.
At this moment, Dominic Cork walks in and overhears the conversation. He starts taking the michael out of “groundsman Nick”.
It quickly becomes apparent he's the Jimmy Anderson of the SKY team. Knight is not too happy by this. This "banter" increases when
Nick attempts to find an alternative route back home as the A23 is closed at Handcross from 8pm to 6am throughout August due to the
incessant road widening works. Knight lives in Essex and needs to drive through the M25 Dartford Tunnel. Cork chides and teases him
as he attempts to find a new route via google. Some would say it was friendly banter others mild abuse. Nick leaves the room and Cork
usurps his chair.
Cork then attempts to be disarming and become one of the boys by rubbishing his job. "I spout nonsense most of the time. The key is to
sound confident when doing it." The problem being, coming from Cork, it could be interpreted as cynical and arrogant.
Then John Lees and his lovely radio producer/wife who both share a passion for bird watching, excitedly tell Cork a story about when on a
trip to Essex to see a rare booted warbler, they were glued to the radio listening to him and Gough scoring 31 runs for the 9th wicket to
win the 2nd Test at Lords against the West Indies in 2000. Cork struck 33*. Other twitchers could not understand why the two refused to budge
from their car until the early evening, as the rare warbler could fly away at anytime.
Cork listens bemused with apparent little understanding of their sacrifice.
Each SKY commentator has a cushy afternoon/evening. Just 3 commentary sessions of 8 overs each. Throw in the odd brief interview,
a presentation, or a summary of the day’s play and that’s it.
One's view of Nick Knight has changed. While occasionally he can be sneering and disdainful, there lyes a gentler part. He's a nice guy and
not afraid of showing his vulnerable side. And as the SKY commentary team walk around the county grounds with a sheen of imperiousness,
one presumes they share similar sentiments to Knight. They are damn lucky to have such a job - a job which appears to be for life.
During the match break, the Sky Polish catering truck chef Adam Zajfert had offered an invite to sample his dinner as thanks for a blog mention
a few weeks back. Tell you what, the SKY staff are spoilt rotten. The meal was delicious, the standard and quality SKY high. Adam would be sent
through to the next ‘Professional Masterchef’ round by Greg and John every time.
Menu:
Ham Leek pie
Thai Green
Chicken Curry
Swordfish Ratatouille
Spinach Mushroom pie
Chunky chips, rice, corn on the cob, butternut squash,
peas + an assortment of salads, breads, cheeses and fruit juices.
Toffee crunchy pie, lemon tart - cream, custard or raspberry coulis.
The SKY Staff Tuck in
A young SKY technical advisor agreed the food was delicious. Given many of the staff work 12 hour shifts, the catering delights are an essential
and integral part of their day. He went on to say that he had OD'd on cricket having watched so many games this season. He can be working
up to 6 days a week.
Finally, there seems few in the media camp who enjoy covering 50 over cricket. As one groaned, "The ECB have returned us to the dark ages and
we have 3 more years of this!”