Veteran cricket commentator, Joseph “Reds” Perreira has decided to finish his illustrious career as an excellent ball by ball presenter on home soil right where it began 55 memorable years ago.
Joseph “Reds” Perreira
It was in 1961 that “Reds” got his opportunity to do ball by ball commentary in a First Class match when a ‘second-string’ commentary team was needed for the British Guiana versus Trinidad and Tobago match in Rose Hall after the first choice presenters were needed at the more high profile match between Jamaica and Barbados was being played in Georgetown.
Perreira was sharing the microphone with Norman McLean and Claude Vieira and the rest is history.
Today, 55 years later, the native of the Pomeroon River in Essequibo begins his farewell match at Providence where Guyana Jaguars take on Barbados Pride in the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Digicel Regional Four-Day Tournament.
“Reds” made the announcement to leave the commentary box on Thursday when he was addressing the local media at the Tower Suites which was organized by his longstanding friend, Vic Insanally.
In all, “Reds” was fortunate to cover 147 Test matches in all Test venues around the world except in Bangladesh. In his global travel, Perriera have called the game with the best in the commentary box when the best were playing at the best venues in the world. The humble Guyanese, pointed out that the World Series of 1978 was the fiercest amount of cricket he called since the best of the best were there in Australia.
In highlighting the struggles of making it to the highest in cricket commentary, “Reds” is still unclear who recommended him to do commentary in Australia but his gut feeling told him it is the late great Tony Cozier. With Cozier, a formidable partnership was formed and together they were the Caribbean voices for more than 30 years while covering majority of the West Indies’ better years.
The humble Guyanese said it is good to be leaving the commentary box where he will share the mic with international commentators, Guyanese Inderjeet Persaud and Barbadian Andrew Mason while calling a very important match which was described in true “Reds” manner as ‘clash of the table.’
Along the journey “Reds” encountered a number of persons and organizations that have paved the way for him and he did make special mention of them; Rafeek Khan, Hugh Cholmondeley, Jerry Richards, Wilbert Holder, GBS, CBU and JBC were just a few. However, the one friend he is most fond of is Tony Cozier whom he was closest to until May this year when he lost his friend.
“Reds” whom always have advise to share was quick to share some points to improve the quality of commentary while sharing some ideas of national unity and interest.
The beautiful and rewarding journey now comes to an end but the memories will forever remain.
