It is widely believed by many cricket followers that former Australian captain Ian Chappell knows everything about cricket and what he doesn't know is probably not worth knowing. And when he recently announced retirement from cricket commentary after 45 years behind the microphone (began doing commentary in 1977), it was widely felt that the game and its fans would be deprived of a vocal, sagacious expert.
Despite it being 42 years since he played the last of his 75 Tests (February 1980), the eldest of the three Chappell brothers, known to be an intellectual of the game, did not lose his sharpness in reading the game. Along with the likes of Tony Greig, Richie Benaud and Bill Lawry, Chappell was one of the most distinctive voices on Channel Nine and highly regarded as one of the best in the cricket commentary business.
