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Christopher Martin-Jenkins dies aged 67

Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the former editor of The Cricketer and legendary commentator on BBC's Test Match Special, has died of cancer aged 67.

CMJ, as he was universally known throughout the game, also served as cricket correspondent of both The Daily Telegraph and The Times in a formidable career in journalism that spanned five decades.

CMJ served his apprenticeship in cricket journalism at The Cricketer, which he joined straight out of university, before moving to the BBC in 1970 where he took over as correspondent in 1973 from his fellow TMS legend, Brian Johnston. He returned to the magazine as editor for a ten-year stint between 1981 and 1991, before moving to The Telegraph and latterly The Times. He retired as correspondent in 2008, but continued to be a regular voice on TMS until ill health forced him to miss the 2012 season.

Tributes have poured in from across the cricketing world. Jonathan Agnew, who succeeded CMJ as BBC cricket correspondent said: "Christopher's authority and respect was not gained from a high-profile playing career, but a deep-rooted love of the game linked to a strong protective instinct which helped him earn the most coveted position of president of MCC."

"Considering the years he worked as editor of The Cricketer magazine, and as correspondent for the BBC twice, the Daily Telegraph and The Times, and 40 years commentating on Test Match Special and the many books he wrote, it is doubtful that anyone has contributed more in a lifetime to the overall coverage of cricket than Christopher Martin-Jenkins."

Date: 01/01/2013 12:41:38 by AMiller
In: Today | Sussex | England |

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