Cricket broadcasters are on the air in St. John’s — and bringing the memory of Bob Cole with them

Abdullah Khalid, left, and Chris Lansdell are two members of the broadcasting team for Cricket Newfoundland and Labrador. (Submitted by Abdullah Khalid and Chris Lansdell)

Although the late Bob Cole wasn’t the voice of cricket in the same way that he was for hockey, broadcasters in St. John’s are honouring him as they start their own journey.

Cricket is a growing sport in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the governing body began live broadcasts last year.

A 10-person crew has come together as the Bob Cole’s Broadcast Brigade — a tribute to the St. John’s-born Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster who died in April at 90.

“You truly understand the value of someone when they are not in between us, so that’s why I wanted to give tribute to such a legendary figure,” Cricket Newfoundland and Labrador marketing coordinator Abdullah Khalid told CBC News.

Chris Lansdell is a member of the broadcast team and has been involved in cricket for over 20 years. He said he had often seen Cole’s name on the media booth at the Mary Brown’s Centre during his work with the Newfoundland Rogues and sees Cole’s ability to leave a lasting impact on the sports world as an inspiration.

“Living in Newfoundland and wanting to be part of something on the national level … it gives me that goal to drive for. Knowing that where I live doesn’t necessarily become an obstacle,” he said.

A key part of Cole’s commentary was his ability to put viewers inside the arenas while watching on television.

St. John’s broadcaster Bob Cole, seen here during an interview with The National in 2019, died in April at the age of 90. (CBC News)

Lansdell said that’s something he hopes to bring to his broadcasts — especially as cricket continues to grow in the region.

“With cricket in Canada, and in Newfoundland especially, it’s a bit of an uphill battle. It isn’t a sport that has a huge place on the national stage,” he said.

“This is a really good year to be doing it. Canada will be playing in the World Cup in a couple of months … and we have teams from the eastern provinces coming to Newfoundland at the end of June. So this is a good time to have a little bit of extra exposure for cricket here in this province.”

What started with just two cricket clubs playing in St. John’s in 2010 has now grown to nine clubs with over 350 members, Khalid said.

Much of that growth has happened over the past four years, Lansdell added.

“It’s heartwarming that people are able to move here and find a piece of their home life.”

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