Cricket commentator Kerry O’Keefe has announced his retirement from ABC grandstand.
 
The man with the controversial laugh and sense of humour is another casualty of the series, with English finger-spinner Graham Swann announcing his retirement after the third test.
 
The announcement was made yesterday – day two of the fourth MCG test.
 
‘Thankyou for your wonderful observations, that everybody has enjoyed so much’, said  Jim Maxwell.
 
‘It’s 13 years of the best years of my commentary life”, O’Keefe replied.
 
‘It’s been an absolute ball’.
 
‘It’s life changing, but it has to end at some stage’.
 
‘We’ll reminisce over the next few months on these past years, it’s been great’, Maxwell replied.
 
O’Keefe admitted that he only expected to commentate one match on the ABC:
 
 “I know my style is not what the ABC listeners are used to,”
 
“But I’ve had a terrific ride and it’s time for somebody else to have a crack.”
 
The ultimate justification O’Keefe gave was: “I am feeling my age. The game’s moving so quickly… I’m just getting older and I discussed it with my wife and it’s time to ride off into the sunset,”
 
He then talked about his life before Grandstand:
 
“When I started I was virtually unemployed. I’d just drifted, doing casual jobs…but my life changed, and suddenly I was making money. A lot of things sprung from it. I wrote three books that sold and my speaking engagements. I’ve been able to secure my family.”

“I tried being this biomechanical expert and analyst and I did some part-time work with Channel Nine and it didn’t work so I thought I’d just be me and take a quirky look at the game,”
 
”I knew it was not the way ABC covered their cricket, they were more staid, and had it been in the (Alan) McGilvray era I wouldn’t have lasted  half a day. But times were changing and people warmed to it.
“Radio was my medium because I could time things. It just suited me and cricket suited me because I loved the game and I loved analysing it. I put work into it every year preparing and it has been 13 great summers.”

Maxwell, in response, described his co-announcer:
 
“I think he’s drawn more people to listen and follow the game than anyone else that’s ever worked on the ABC.
 
“He can tell stories, he can talk about the game and he’s got an extraordinary gift for observational humour. He just brings something to the game that’s unique and it will be missed enormously.”