Ashis Ray completed 40 years as a test match commentator on Saturday 28 November. This makes him the senior-most still active Indian cricket broadcaster; and the third senior-most in the world after Tony Cozier of the West Indies and Henry Blofeld of England.
On 28 November 1975, Ray made his debut as a ball-by-ball commentator on the India versus Sri Lanka test at Nagpur for All India Radio.
He stated: "I have a vivid memory of that experience. It was also Tiger Pataudi's maiden appearance as an expert commentator. Lala Amarnath was the other expert. N K P Salve was the President of the Vidarbha Cricket Association."
Over the years, Ray has covered test cricket and/or World Cup tournaments in India, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
He was the only Asian in BBC's panel of ball-by-ball commentators for the 1983 World Cup. He commentated on India matches in the tournament, including the semi-final and final, which India famously won. 25 years later he produced TV documentary 1983: India's World Cup, which was short-listed for a BAFTA nomination.
From the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to the lucid Sachin Tendulkar, he's described them all.
"I have known Ashis forever, it seems," said Gavaskar in a foreword to his recent book Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge, published by Bloomsbury.
His once co-commentator and former England all-rounder Trevor Bailey wrote: "His commentaries are in precise classical English."
