Robin Jackman’s passing on Christmas Day ends a remarkable life in cricket that has touched millions around the world, writes Alasdair Fraser.
Remarkable is the word that best describes the legendary Jackers, the Englishman born in India that made Cape Town his home. His ties to South Africa even resulted in an England vs West Indies Test match in Guyana being cancelled.
His retirement from the mic in 2012 was an especially sad moment for many, as there was nothing better than listening to his voice recalling stories with that dry English wit, while you chilled on the couch. Lazy summer days with Jackers. Pure bliss.
My personal experience goes back to the 1980s as a young lad running around Newlands watching Western Province claiming silverware under Jackers. He was the perfect fit and he was more than able to counter the Transvaal ‘Mean Machine’ under his watch.
Even before that, I remember Jackers doing various sports-related inserts for TV magazine shows whenever Martin Locke was involved. He was the ‘English Pro’ in all departments, and it was the beginning of a long career in the comms box at cricket grounds around the country.
Cricket fanatics, who have watched the game for many years, will fondly recall the voices of Trevor Quirk and Jackers during the early days of the Proteas’ return to the international fold in the early-1990s. Their calming voices eased South Africa’s navigation through unchartered waters as if it was all just a dream.
It was Jackers who called it when the likes of Allan Donald, Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla made their first tentative steps into Test cricket.
Jackers voice touched millions, so much so that a certain lady noticed something different in his vocal cords and immediately got in touch with him to see a specialist. It was a remarkable stroke of luck as Jackers was diagnosed with throat cancer, and luckily the diagnosis was an early one, which meant he recovered but it sadly ended his commentary career.
But now that Jackers has left us at the age of 75 in a year that has been hard on everyone, his seat in the commentary box in the skies above is waiting for him. It will be a much richer place with Jackers. Rest in peace, sir.
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