A poll of listeners to BBC Radio 5 Live, carried out in 2005, voted the ensuing chaotic footage as "the greatest sporting commentary of all time" – beating (among others) Kenneth Wolstenholme's "they think it's all over" and Ian Robertson's description of the Jonny Wilkinson drop goal that gave England victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.
In a Test Match against the West Indies in 1991, Ian Botham lost his balance while trying to hook a bouncer from fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, and as he tried desperately to avoid trampling over his wicket, he stepped over the stumps and in doing so dislodged the bail. As he and his co–commentator Brian Johnston delivered their close–of–play summary, Agnew reported that "He just didn't quite get his leg over."
He soon realised what he's said, and the listener can just hear him trying not to laugh as his co–commentator Brian Johnston strives manfully to keep talking. But after about half a minute the giggles get the better of him: "Aggers, for goodness' sake, stop it!"
Aggers then steps in to come to Johnners's rescue, but fares no better. For a while the pair can say nothing coherent at all, until – a full minute after Agnew's remark – Johnston manages "I've stopped laughing now" and control gradually returns to the commentary box.
According to The Grauniad, "After Test Match Special went off the air, Johnston was cross with himself for losing control and producer Peter Baxter was unhappy. But the public reaction was different as the clip was replayed. A London drama school now uses it as an example of what not to do when overcome by a fit of giggles."
You can listen to the whole episode here, on YouTube.
© Haydn Thompson 2017