David Gower - Commentating and Later Life

Commentating and Later Life

It's the old'uns versus the young'uns, Ian and myself versus Nasser and Mike. There's a lot of cross-generational banter as well as pure dressing-room banter. It helps pass the time of day, really.

Since leaving the game, Gower has enjoyed a new career as a cricket broadcaster and television personality, including being one of the team captains on the popular BBC comedy sports quiz, They Think It's All Over from 1995 till 2003. He also presented four series of the BBC2 cricket magazine show, Gower's Cricket Monthly from 1995–1998 and, at the same time was one of the BBC's main cricket commentators. Gower also spent time commentating on several cricket series in Australia in the 1990s. His commentary for Channel Nine, with his trademark relaxed calls of play and generous attitude to the players and fellow commentators, proved extremely popular with Australian cricket viewing audiences.

Gower is now the main presenter of international cricket coverage for Sky Sports and regular commentator alongside former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. He also commentates on the matches - a role he has also played in Brian Lara International Cricket series - and has found success. Matthew Engel of ESPNcricinfo wrote that Gower's commentating career has been "so successful that his cricket seemed mere preparation."

Gower is also a Patron of the David Shepherd Foundation, the World Land Trust, Vice-President of the Nature in Art Trust, and a director of an Internet wine company. He was also awarded the "Oldie of the Year" award in 1993 by The Oldie magazine. He is the author of a number of written works on cricket, including Gower: The Autobiography with The Independent journalist Martin Johnson in 1992, David Gower: With Time to Spare with Alan Lee in 1995 and Can't Bat, Can't Bowl, Can't Field also with Johnson.