David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd is leaving the Sky Sports commentary team after 22 years.
The former England player, umpire, coach and Sportsmail columnist, 74, has been a popular part of Sky’s coverage of all formats of the game for over two decades.
Lloyd became a regular fixture in the Sky commentary box for England Test and one-day matches in 1999 but gained great popularity with the launch of Twenty20 cricket.
David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd is leaving the Sky Sports cricket commentary team after 22 years
The former England player and coach turned pundit has been a popular part of the Sky commentary team for over two decades
He would lead the Edgbaston crowd in singing the Neil Diamond classic Sweet Caroline at T20 Finals Day and would have viewers in stitches when interacting with members of the crowd through radio earpieces.
Highlights of Lloyd’s time behind the Sky mic included calling Stuart Broad’s sensational 8 wickets for 15 in the 2015 Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
He also commentated on Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes off the bowling of Ben Stokes as England lost to West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup final.
In a statement, Lloyd said: ‘After 22 wonderful years with Sky Cricket, I’ve decided the time is now right to pass on the microphone.
‘It’s been an immense privilege to try and bring the sport I love into people’s homes up and down the country.
‘There are so many wonderful memories, so many terrific games and incredible performances.
Lloyd shares a joke with fellow Lancastrian James Anderson in Sri Lanka back in 2018
On air with Ian Ward and Nasser Hussain ahead of the Test with New Zealand in 2015
‘I’ve been lucky to travel the world sharing Ashes highs and lows, World Cup wins and losses, heroics and heartaches with you all.
‘Sharing a commentary box in Australia in 2013 with my broadcasting hero Bill Lawry was a real highlight.
‘It has been a great pleasure to work alongside Ian Bishop, Ravi Shastri, Shane Warne, Shaun Pollock and Ian Smith among many others.
‘With the passing of Bob Willis and after the decision to move on by my good friends David Gower, Ian Botham and, more recently, Michael Holding, the commentary box feels a little emptier.
Lloyd admitted the commentary box ‘felt emptier’ after the passing of Bob Willis (left) and the departure from Sky of David Gower (right)
Michael Holding (left) and Sir Ian Botham (right) had also left the Sky Sports team
‘And so I feel it is time for me to do the same and move on to the next chapter.
‘I leave the Sky box now in immensely capable hands led by my pals Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Ian Ward and Rob Key.
‘To those that follow, cherish that mic. Inform and entertain, so the next generation can fall in love with this wonderful game.
‘I’m done now with Sweet Caroline but in the words of Elton John, ‘I’m still standing!”
A Sky Sports statement read: ‘David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd has been a star of the Sky Cricket commentary box for over two decades, with an extraordinary ability to inform and entertain in equal measure.
‘Bumble also played a huge role helping Sky launch Twenty20, taking cricket to new audiences in 2003 – a format that has changed the sport forever.
Lloyd pictured in 1999 when he joined the Sky Sports commentary team for England games
‘Perhaps his finest hour came during the Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge in 2015 – calling Stuart Broad’s amazing performance with perfection.
‘A year later he was on lead commentary during an incredible T20 World Cup finale but handed the microphone over to Ian Bishop when it became obvious West Indies were going to win.
‘He is much loved and respected by his fellow commentators and production team who cherish the time spent working with him. Thank you Bumble for your service.’
Bumble speaks to fellow Sky pundit Michael Atherton ahead of the 2018 Test match in Galle
Lloyd last month apologised to the former Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq after being accused of making racist comments.
Rafiq said Lloyd attempted to smear him in an effort to suppress allegations of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Rafiq said: ‘Then personally this guy doesn’t even know me, has never spent any time with me, is talking about my personal drinking, going out and socialising.
‘That was David Lloyd, he’s been an England coach, commentator, and I found it disturbing because Sky are supposedly doing this amazing work on bringing racism to the front and within a week of me speaking out that’s what I got sent to me. And I thought, ‘Gosh, there’s some closet racists and we need to do something about it’.’
Sky conducted an investigation into the comments attributed to Lloyd, which were made by Rafiq at his DCMS hearing in Westminster.
Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeen Rafiq accused Lloyd of racist comments during his appearance before the DCMS committee in Westminster