And we're live on BBC Test Match Special – thanks to an iPad

The iPad has many uses, but keeping the BBC's Test Match Special radio commentary on air probably didn't occur to the tablet computer's designers at Apple.

However, the TMS team, led by the tech-savvy Jonathan Agnew, were forced to fall back on Skypeing their live commentary of England's cricket match against Pakistan from Dubai on Thursday morning via an iPad after facing being forced off the air by a local radio communications breakdown.

The production team turned to cricket correspondent Agnew's iPad to keep the programme on air, with the commentators giving their verdict to listeners via Skype.

It proved a novel experience for some members of the commentary team, including former England opener Geoff Boycott.

"What do I do with it? I have never had one of these," said Boycott, after he was handed the tablet computer by Christopher Martin-Jenkins, or CMJ, who said he would handle it "as carefully as the holy grail". "Just talk normally, do I?" asked Boycott.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, another member of the TMS team, posted a picture on Twitter of Agnew talking into his iPad.

"Commenting through an iPad … very amusing," tweeted Vaughan, pictured here alongside Angew.

Long-serving TMS commentator Henry Blofeld added: "It's rather exciting isn't it? Skype, iPad and goodness knows what."

Listeners to Test Match Special, broadcast on Radio 4 long wave and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, will have become familiar with the occasional communications breakdown from overseas matches.

The loss of the line in years gone by would have meant a BBC presenter in London offering a basic ball-by-ball commentary from television pictures. This morning a BBC staffer in the corporation's new Salford headquarters filled in temporarily while the Skype connection was set up, but it was quickly back to the regulars in Dubai.

Former BBC commentator Arlo White tweeted: "TMS is currently a tremendous advert for Skype and iPads. OK it lacks crowd effects, but CMJ/Boycs coming through loud and clear!"

But there was nothing the TMS team could do about the quality of the England performance as they appeared to be sinking towards defeat against Pakistan on the third day of the first Test of the three match series.

Agnew said: "There has been something slightly innovative here today even if it was to bring listeners sorry news."

The series is taking place in the Middle East because Pakistan are playing all their international matches overseas due to security concerns about games being hosted in their own country.

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