“So, it all looks academic now. As long as Winston Olonga stays at the crease, South Africa should cruise home. They only need 45 runs, with 3 wickets in hand, for outright victory over Australia.”
In his Sydney Cricket Ground commentary box at the back of the M.A. Noble Stand, Lucas Fox paused in his description, milking the moment. Voice hushed, almost a whisper, he built the suspense for listeners in two countries. Just turned 30, tall and fair, Lucas looked as young as many of the players. No slouch as a batsman himself, he had sacrificed a budding cricket career for the more secure life of a commentator, and after three years was reaping the benefits. His statistician, Billy Urquhart, was a mine of information, alerting Lucas to significant records, run-rates, bowling figures, archival anecdotes and other minutiae – they were a perfect team.
