Last week I had the chance to indulge in an activity that many crave,cricket broadcasting. Thanks to Test Match Sofa (the alternative TMS)I had the opportunity to commentate on the first day of the England India Test Match at Lords, after my lunchtime interview on the many links between Politics and International Cricket. This is now available as Podcast number 79 at www.testmatchsofa.com

Test Match Sofa is a unique fan based service which seeks to convey the essence of Test cricket in an entertaining and very enthusiastic fashion that full-time broadcasters often cannot or fear not do. Whilst the commentary proceeds, the interaction with the listeners is constant often resulting in the weaving into proceedings of curios and tales of remarkable cricketing events and possibilities.

As well as being great fun I soon realised that I would rather be the summariser and pundit rather than the commentator as the need to offer a stream of entertaining, perceptive and accurate observations is a skill that very few people have.

I certainly hope to be back some time and maybe the other TMS might offer me a gig.