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Agnew keeps Melton in test match spotlight

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew has been making sure the cricketing world knows and hears all about the Melton Band

Melton Band
  Jonathan Agnew is the BBC's cricket correspondent

It hasn't just been the England cricket team making the sporting headlines this week in Pakistan where they won the First Test Match in record breaking fashion.

So too has the BBC cricket correspondent, Jonathan Agnew — with his euphonium playing.

Second euphonium

'Aggers' as he is affectionately known to cricket listeners around the globe, used to play tuba in his younger days.

Having attended a Christmas concert last year by his local Melton Band, he admitted the sound of brass had given him the desire to play again and he subsequently took on the role of second euphonium with the East Midlanders and throughout the summer kept listeners and his colleagues informed and amused by his musical progress.

Melodies in Multan

Despite broadcasting each day for the tour and its matches, Agnew decided to use his spare time keeping up his regular practice regime of Christmas melodies for his return home in time for carolling duties with the band in Melton Mowbray.

With the instrument carefully wrapped for its journey he finally got in some practice alongside England's travelling 'Barmy Army' supporters for their traditional daily rendition of Hubert Parry's 'Jerusalem'.

This is normally accompanied by trumpeter Simon Finch, who has an association with Amersham Band, but with him not there Agnew joined the group instead.

It was great fun playing Jerusalem for the Barmy Army. I haven't been so nervous for a long time — and obviously we inspired England to a great victory in MultanJonathan Agnew

Compliments

He later admitted on air that he'd received lots of complimentary messages from his colleagues in the band, and made sure that Melton Band was given a worldwide plug, plus a call out for anyone to join them.

He said: "It was great fun playing Jerusalem for the Barmy Army. I haven't been so nervous for a long time — and obviously we inspired England to a great victory in Multan."

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