Town criers probably carried the first cricket scores from village to village in Elizabethan times. Fast-forward a few centuries to the modern game's international status. It is fully professional at the top level and the media play many roles, informing, promoting and criticizing. The sport and the accompanying media enjoy a close and complementary relationship.

Newspaper, radio and television commentators traditionally took different roles. Now a single commentator can represent all three in one day; giving, for example, a few 20-minute radio stints, a short appearance on television to comment and writing a newspaper column to sum up the day's play.

Newspapers, before radio, had the field to themselves. Major papers in cricketing nations, which brought out several editions per day, would have the latest scores and be first with the news. Some of the finest writing in any paper or magazine still appears in the cricket section. For example, Sir Neville Cardus (1888-1975) of The Guardian combined music and cricket writing throughout his long career. He showed that the cricket media's roles were like those for theater arts, "to teach and to delight" (Aristotle).

Radio comes into its own in longer games. A test match between countries can last five days, not counting breaks. Few fans will spend all that time watching the game on television but will have an ear on the commentary while, for example, driving, fishing or painting the house.

Most newcomers see their first game of cricket on television. So the commentator must keep remarks easily understood by novices, without talking down to the rest. Most television broadcasters are former top players and their anecdotes of their playing days often enliven dull sections of play.

Cricket is sponsorship-heavy. Every club knows the merit of good backing to keep equipment up to date, travel costs down and the bar well-stocked. At representative level, the advertising dollar or pound is even more vital. Clubs add sponsor's names to the teams and trophies. And they ask the media to do the same. Most oblige and give the sponsor a free plug when they mention, for example, "Solid Cement Jones College." Repetition can become a mouthful; so a good rule is one mention and not in the first paragraph.

Your favorite game is as close as the computer toolbar. Having online coverage is like with the http://matchlivescore.blogspot.com/ gives free ball-by-ball coverage of major matches.

The amateurs, however knowledgeable or inspired, are still suspect because they lack accountability. Their freedom to spout is admirable but comes without constraint. Take their words with a grain of salt until they show their bona fides.

Cricket