# The BBC cricket commentary blooper

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-bbc-holding-willey
- Themes: mistakes, humour, embarrassment
- Life situations: public speaking slip, fear of embarrassment

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm recalls the famous BBC Test Match Special blooper when, introducing an over with a bowler named Holding and a batsman named Willey, the commentator said the names in an unfortunately suggestive order — live on air.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

And there was this famous BBC commentator called Johnson. Anyway, he was just the one who was considered to be the best BBC commentator. And it did happen that England were playing the West Indies. And as he was commentating and actually got through the BBC sensors before they realized it had gone to where. Because the Englishman who was actually bowling was I think something, was it Jack Willie? I think his name was. And anyway, the West Indian batsman was William Holding, a very very famous batsman for the West Indies. And so he introduced the start of the over “the batsman's holding the the bowlers willie.” and it went on BBC!

## Teaching point

Embarrassing mistakes can be laughed at rather than feared; less stress means better performance.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A famous cricket commentator, as Ajahn Brahm recalls it, read out two players' names in the worst possible order, live on air, and the clip became legendary rather than shameful. Embarrassing slips are survivable, and often endearing. Treat your own blunders the same way: learn what you can, laugh, and notice how much better you perform without fear of the next one.

## Source

- [How To Not Have Any Stress | Ajahn Brahm | 12 May 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJSxDv4XrY4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 41:16 to 42:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJSxDv4XrY4&t=2476s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Living Without Blame | Ajahn Brahm | 05-12-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR5c4h7Tmo0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:47 to 25:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR5c4h7Tmo0&t=1487s