'A big loss to the game' as cricket icon retires

West Indies great Michael Holding has announced he is hanging up the microphone, and will retire from cricket commentary.

The 67-year-old, who took 249 Test wickets, has been a regular fixture on broadcasts in Australia and around the world since he stopped playing in the 1980s.

"From the very first day I met him, Michael Holding has always been kind, understanding and encouraging to me; even when I messed up," said Holding's countryman, Ian Bishop.

"I am privileged to call him a friend and mentor. I will celebrate and be thankful the teachings he brought."

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Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, who had worked with Holding on Sky Sports broadcasts, said that Holding was "an absolute gentleman".

"The kind of person you'd walk into a war with," Karthik said.

"Spent little time with him,but made plenty of memories. Loved his straight forward nature and his warm laugh"

https://twitter.com/irbishi/status/1438169879186657280https://twitter.com/DineshKarthik/status/1438220533800259585

Arguably Holding's most memorable piece of commentary work came during a rain delay last year, when he produced a five minute monologue about racial inequality that was viewed millions of times.

https://twitter.com/SkyCricket/status/1280809870766284800

Holding expanded on these thoughts in conversations with several high-profile athletes in his recently published book, Why We Kneel, How We Rise.

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"To say I was surprised at the volume of positive feedback I received from around the world after my comments on Sky Sports is an understatement," he said.

"I came to realise I couldn't just stop there; I had to take it forward – hence the book, as I believe education is the way forward."

https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1438179528392810505https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1438162294115086339

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