LONDON – The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has awarded cricket writer and commentator Tony Cozier honorary life membership.
The invitation acknowledges the Barbadian’s huge contribution to the game for over half a century.
In possession of the unmistakeable voice of West Indies cricket, Cozier first commentated in the Caribbean in 1965 during the victorious Test series against Australia.
He made his BBC Test Match Special debut the following year at Headingley, has had multiple stints in the Sky Sports commentary team, and also worked for Australian television network Channel Nine for 14 years.
Away from the microphone, Cozier has also been a prolific writer on the game in newspapers, magazines and books, in particular editing all 22 editions of the West Indies Cricket Annual between 1970 and 1991, and writing the widely acclaimed text The West Indies: 50 Years Of Test Cricket in 1978.
He currently writes a column in THE NATION Newspaper in Barbados as well as Trinidad and Tobago Express.
Cozier joins a select group of former players, umpires, administrators and journalists who are already life members of the club, including West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards.
“Knowing the illustrious company I now join, I am truly flattered by the honour cricket’s foremost club has bestowed on me,” said Cozier on accepting the invitation.
“My first Test match at Lord’s was the thrilling last over draw in 1963, after which there was an extended sequence of West Indies successes.
“That ended in 1995 and I now trust that previous service will be resumed on my first Test as an MCC member next May.” (PR)