Remembering Tony Cozier on his death anniversary

With due respect to the current lot of distinguished commentators I miss listening to the likes of Richie Benaud Frank Tyson Tony Greig and his namesake Tony Cozier The last mentioned passed away this very day May 11 in 2016 in Barbados at the age of 75His behindthemicrophone skills got a boost when Australian business tycoon Kerry Packer decided to sign him for World Series Cricket From then on although he started his commentary career long before 197778 Cozier was a regular voice emerging from the Channel Nine commentary boxLike Benaud he commentated on players who ended up being colleagues in the box Greig Ian and Greg Chappell Rod Marsh Max Walker and several others And like Benaud again he earned the respect of playersCozierrsquos distinctive voice spread across eras Clive Lloyd Viv Richards Richie Richardson Brian Larahe was the leading Caribbean voice when these men stamped their authority on West Indies cricketSome great men sought his counsel on important issues When Cozier passed away Lara revealed that he had a chat with him after losing 05 to South Africa in 1998 Cozier advised him on how West Indies cricket could be pulled back on trackOne couldnrsquot get enough of Cozier the commentator especially when the cricket was gripping My departed friend Kiran Ashar the former Mumbai wicketkeeperbatsman was an admirer too Kiran treasured his small cassette collection of Cozierrsquos narrations and was thrilled to be in Australia with the Cricket Club of India team in 198182 a tour which coincided with West Indies Test and triangular series Down Under Cozier was part of the commentary team for that seriesCozier was also an achiever on the literary front As a kid I read all what he wrote in Sportsweek magazine and had the pleasure of meeting him in 1987 when I worked for a sports bookshop The Marine Sports Cozier was known to the establishment since he edited the West Indies Cricket Annual year after year 1970 to 1991 and wanted to visit the Dadar shopMy then boss Theodore Braganza sent me to pick him up from The President hotel in Cuffe Parade I was awestruck while travelling with him in a taxi but mustered up courage to ask him if he could organise for Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards to sign their autobiographies for me Cozier willingly agreed and the autographed copies were kept for me at the hotel reception the following day My joy knew no boundsWe met next in 1994 when Courtney Walshrsquos team toured India He was happy to learn that I had become a cricket writer Cozier continued to write for MiddayWe shared press box space during the Dambulla leg of the oneday triangular series and I remember him returning to tap away on his keypad after every commentary session below the press box He did both jobs without a fuss and provided no indication of the normal deadline pressure pressmen have to endureIt was a tour on which he enjoyed the company of old friends Ian and Greg Chappell Greg was coaching the Indian team then Exfast bowler Colin Croft was part of the media entourage as well and so was Cozierrsquos photographer mate Gordon BrooksNo amount of words can be adequate to highlight Cozierrsquos contribution to the game of cricket He was modest about it and I see no reason why the International Cricket Council cannot honour him posthumously in their Hall of Fame