Bumble is an all-time great. And a man I’m proud to call a friend
Icannot believe I will not be sharing a Sky commentary box with David Lloyd any more. He is one of the all-time great commentators and a wonderful human being. cricket is in Bumble’s veins. You can hear his love and passion for the game in every word he says and he has that priceless ability to inform and entertain at the same time. Bumble always promotes what is good for cricket but he is never afraid to call out anything bad that needs addressing.
cricket is a slow game at times but invariably Bumble is at his best in those quiet periods. He becomes the great entertainer and brings the game back to life. He knows when to talk and when not to, when to be serious and when to have fun.
He senses when the viewer needs cheering up and can always bring a smile to their face, whether it is by singing Sweet Caroline or just making a little one-liner. then in the next breath he is switching on to find the perfect words for the great moments — like Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over at the 2007 twenty20 World cup, or Stuart Broad’s eight for 15 at trent Bridge in 2015.
Bumble never makes commentary about him. When carlos Brathwaite hit four sixes off Ben Stokes to win the 2016 twenty20 World cup for West Indies, he was the lead commentator but he turned to Ian Bishop and said ‘this is West Indies’ moment. You do it.’ that’s how Bumble set up one of cricket’s great commentary moments, with Bishop saying ‘remember the name.’
What you see on tV with him is the person we all see day in, day out. there is no different face for the public. Bumble is a genuine person who loves life and enjoys having a laugh and relishing the cricket. He takes people as he finds them.
that’s why he spends so much time talking cricket to people. Bumble always has time for anyone and will sit there for hours, talking not just cricket but music, beer and anything else that interests him. He’s not fussed about fancy restaurants. Just a decent pint and a good curry and he is happy whatever the surroundings.
I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed his company, first as an England player when he was coach and for the last 17 years as broadcasting colleagues and friends.
Bumble has done everything in the game and is such an accomplished broadcaster. You almost forget he played for and coached England and had time as a first-class umpire, as well as his long association with Lancashire. He was our go-to man on every subject. He ticked every box.
the funniest moments? I still laugh at the umpiring demonstration we did in the indoor school at Lord’s and Bumble’s impression of the old umpire Harry Baldwin. He was only given short notice of us doing that but he was brilliant and so naturally funny. If you need cheering up, look it up on Youtube and I guarantee it will bring a smile to your face.
then there was the time I shared a camper van with him in new Zealand. Bumble got up every 10 minutes in the middle of the night to go to the loo and I would wake up each morning to the sight of him wandering around in just his underwear. or how about the time he went out to do the toss, looked down to see if it had landed heads or tails and ended up headbutting match referee Richie Richardson?
Bumble is old-school in his high standards. He would pick up the rest of us for talking too much and cares passionately about how the game is broadcast. He is so professional, too, and was always the first into work every morning. He always came up with ideas and never just left it to the producer. and when a producer had a good idea Bumble would throw himself into it 100 per cent, like when it was suggested he take on Freddie Flintoff in a singalong in front of the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston. tV gold.
It was always great walking out of a ground with Bumble because everyone would be shouting his name and wanted to speak to him. You can forget he is 74, too. there was not a single day when Bumble didn’t turn up with that energy, drive and enthusiasm.
We loved him when he was our coach. He could be up and down, like the time we came in at lunch in auckland in 1997 after a bad session and said ‘where’s the coach?’ Bumble was walking around the rugby ground because he couldn’t face talking to us!
and when he went aWoL after we lost to australia a and we had to go to the airport to persuade him not to go home. thankfully he stayed and we went on to win the Boxing Day test in Melbourne. But he was a brilliant coach and always supported us 100 per cent.
that loyalty is something I have seen throughout my time with Bumble. If you are a mate of his, you are a mate for life.
Sky lost a great commentator in Michael Holding earlier this year and now we have lost another in Bumble. Both were a joy to work with and will be sadly missed.