CMJ A cricketing life by Christopher Martin-Jenkins (Simon & Schuster, £25) (From Gazette & Herald)

CMJ A cricketing life by Christopher Martin-Jenkins (Simon & Schuster, £25)

12:49pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Books By Bill Spence

Cricketers the world over will know the voice of Christopher Martin-Jenkins and will know him as a doyen among cricket commentators.

A voice with just the right tone and resonance, an ability to see a situation and develop it with the right words so that listeners, near and far, were taken into the moment as it happened; these were gifts that CMJ developed to the delight of radio listeners.

His journalistic work also brought cricket matches alive to many readers. Not so many will know that he played cricket to a high standard, nor will they know much about his private life.

We get a little of each in his autobiography, sufficient to put flesh on the voice. Mainly we get cricket as experienced and witnessed by him.

It is a delight to travel the world with him experiencing highlights of the game and meeting personalities. A pleasant read, a must for any lover of cricket.