Legendary West Indies fast bowler, Ian Bishop, who has now become one of the most popular commentators around the world become a household name after his ecstatic commentary line in the T20 World Cup 2016 final
Recently, during a conversation with betway.com, he recalled the day and what prompted him to come up with those chants for the flamboyant Caribbean all-rounder, Carlos Brathwaite, who took the team over the line.
Ian Bishop Reminisces His Time In The Commentary During The T20 World Cup 2016 Final
In the 2016 World T20 final, Brathwaite helped West Indies to clinch their second title despite the team needing 19 runs in the final over against England. Apart from the back-top-back sixes of Brathwaite, the game is also remembered for the iconic lines from Ian Bishop, who was heard saying: “Carlos Brathwaite! Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!”
Recalling the day during a chat with betway.com, Ian Bishop said, “I went to a function hosted by a friend of mine two days before the final. And I was asked which players we should look forward to watching in the final, beyond the obvious guys like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo. I said to the guy: ‘Carlos Brathwaite is a good all-around cricketer, remember that name’.”
Talking about the day of the final, Bishop recalled that it was David [‘Bumble’] Lloyd’s turn to commentate in the final over, but the latter urged the Caribbean legend to do the honours.
Ian Bishop elaborated, “When he hit the final six, the first thing that regurgitated was what I’d said to that gentleman.” Even though every cricket fan remembers Bishop’s iconic chants, he prefers to downplay his role. He said, “It’s embarrassing to talk about it. Honestly, no line is great unless the action on the field justifies it.”
Keeping those iconic lines apart, Ian Bishop has always been a well-known personality in the cricketing fraternity for several years. He reckons that with the emergence of T20 cricket, not only players, but the broadcasters are also getting additional opportunities, even though most commentators haven’t played the format.
Talking about the impact of T20 revolution in the broadcasting industry, Ian Bishop said, “I’m very open to research and talking to guys who played T20, and I think I’ve learned a lot about it by covering it so often. As a player, I always wanted to do better. I got a five-fer, for example, because, instead of celebrating it, I would be thinking about how I can get the next one.”
The shortest format of the game seek validation around the world in the mid-2000s when it started becoming mainstream. But, though Bishop admits that, initially, he “did not grasp what to form of it”, he often gets annoyed by arguments that it is any less pure than other formats. He also feels that apart from the money and entertainment, T20 cricket has tactical nuances as well.
It’s no coincidence that Ian Bishop considers Bravo, Gayle, and Pollard as the stalwarts of T20 cricket, as they have been dominating most of the cricketing leagues around the world in the last decade or so. In the early 2010s, when not a lot of players were eager to opt for cricket as a career in the Caribbean, T20 has kept cricket in the region alive.
Elaborating on the importance of T20 cricket in the West Indies, Bishop said, “What has always summed up West Indies players? Athleticism, power, panache, flair, power-hitting, mystery spin. We now have a format that suits those skills to a greater degree than ever.”
Ian Bishop Talks About West Indies’ Chances At The T20 World Cup 2021
With Gayle, Pollard and Bravo are moving towards the fang end of their careers, the 2021 World Cup is the best possible opportunity for the stalwart to establish themselves as the undisputed kings in the shortest format of the game.
Elaborating the same, Ian Bishop said, “We have to be realistic, there are lots of contenders. England has got guys who are aggressive with the bat. India has stars throughout its line-up. New Zealand is beginning to hit more boundaries and have a dangerous bowling attack. Pakistan is dangerous with the ball. But the West Indies have so much experience now, so I have my fingers crossed that they can go well.”
West Indies must be eyeing to defend their title in T20 World Cup 2021 and lift the coveted trophy for the third time. If they manage to do it, the fans can rest assured that Ian Bishop must’ve already thought of delivering another iconic chant that will elaborate the momentous occasion.