BBC chief cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew attacks Beeb’s neutral language… and compares ‘men’s ashes’ to ‘Battle of Hastings men’.

BBC chief cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew has hit out at gender-neutral terminology in the sport, insisting their introduction is “sad”.

Agnew announced earlier this month that he would leave office at the end of the summer.

The broadcaster confirmed the news by signing a four-year extension to remain a commentator on Test Match Special.

Agnew, speaking to the Sunday Times, admitted his disappointment at the change in vocabulary around sport following the introduction of gender-neutral terminology.

This includes the use of “hitter” rather than drummer.

Agnew admitted his frustration with the use of the term “hitter” rather than “batter”

The MCC announced in 2021 that cricketers would be called “batters”.

“I hate the ‘hitter,’ I always call a batter a ‘hitter,’” Agnew said. “But why can’t a man playing a man’s game be a ‘beater’?”

“I just think it’s sad, inclusiveness is great, but come on.”

The influential Marylebone Cricket Club announced in 2021 that cricketers would be called “batters”.

The MCC said the move was a “natural progression” and changed the laws of cricket to make it “inclusive for all”.

It was claimed that the decision followed the wider use of the terms “batter” and “batters” since the previous review of the laws of the game.

“The move to ‘batting’ is a natural progression, aligning with the conditions of bowlers and fielders who already comply with the laws,” the MCC said in 2021.

The changes were described by some fans as a “wake-up call”.

Agnew, who joined the BBC in 1991, also expressed frustration with the Ashes, which England and Australia have contested on the men’s side since 1882.

The biennial Test series between the teams was called “the Ashes” after a fake newspaper obituary of the England team, after Australia won on English soil for the first time.

A Women’s Ashes has been contested since 1998.

Agnew expressed frustration as to why the Ashes must be known as “Men’s Ashes”.

The Women’s Ashes have been contested by England and Australia since 1998.

“That doesn’t mean the Ashes have to be the ‘Ashes of Men,’” Agnew said.

“People are going to call me an old fart, I guess, it’s an event. It happened.

“This isn’t the ‘Battle of the Men of Hastings,’ is it?” »

The former England international stressed he was a fan of women’s football, saying he had a “great time” covering the Commonwealth Games tournament in Birmingham.

Agnew is expected to remain in post as the BBC’s senior commentator until at least 2027 after signing his new deal with the corporation.

He is expected to give up his other broadcasting and columnist commitments at the end of the summer.