Christopher Martin-Jenkins
His crisp, precise voice and deep knowledge of cricket became the soundtrack of English summers for generations of radio listeners.
1945–2013 (age 68)·English cricketer, broadcaster and journalist·Birthday: January 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Christopher Martin-Jenkins, known universally as CMJ, was the quintessential voice of cricket for the BBC. Born in 1945, he carved a path from schoolmaster to journalist, joining the BBC's Test Match Special in 1973. For nearly four decades, his commentary—marked by its clarity, gentle wit, and unwavering respect for the game's traditions—guided listeners through the drama on the pitch. Beyond the microphone, he served as cricket correspondent for both the BBC and The Times, and later as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club, where he was a staunch defender of the sport's spirit. His career was a bridge between eras, bringing a thoughtful, literate approach to broadcasting that made complex strategies accessible and memorable. Even after his death in 2013, his measured tones remain a gold standard for sports commentary.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Christopher was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Christopher Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
Christopher's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 60
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Died at 68
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Served as the BBC's chief cricket commentator on Test Match Special for nearly 40 years, from 1973 until 2012.
- Held the prestigious position of President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2010–2011.
- Authored several books on cricket, including a biography of former England captain Tony Greig.
- Worked as the cricket correspondent for both the BBC and The Daily Telegraph during his career.
Did You Know?
He was a talented club cricketer who once took a hat-trick while bowling for the BBC's staff team.
He coined the nickname 'The King of Spain' for England batsman David Gower.
He prepared for his commentary by writing his notes in a distinctive, tiny handwriting.
He turned down an offer to become the secretary of the MCC in the 1980s to remain in broadcasting.
““The game of cricket is a wonderful teacher of the virtues of patience, application and concentration.””
