It's funny how, when someone mentions Test matches, I always remember the games I`ve listened to on the radio. They have created more nostalgia for me than anything I've watched live on television, even England`s 1966 Football World Cup victory.

'Jim Laker's Test' at Old Trafford in July 1956 when he took 19 Australian wickets for a meagre 90 run - a feat no Test Match bowling figures have ever challenged. I was still at Colyton Grammar School and it was the last days of the summer term. All the exams had finished and so we had more free time available which I, together with several others, spent clustered round a portable radio with a terrible reception listening to the Test Match. It whistled and crackled. Voices came and went. Fading at critical moments as we desperately tried to re-tune the station. I can also recall Sid Bradbeer, a master extremely keen on cricket, popping by to check on the score.

School finished for the Summer holiday on the Friday, the second day of that Test so I was glued to the radio at home (one with a far better reception) until Laker took the final wicket. It was a moment something I will never forget. Although watching the old TV footage now, the celebrations appear so muted against what such an achievement would create today.

'Botham's Test' at Headingley in 1981stands out in my memory. I was accompanying a new salesman in South Devon and listening to the car radio as we made our way between customers' farms. Australia declared on 401-9 with 20 minutes of play left on Friday evening. Botham, without the weight of captaincy (from which he`d recently resigned) had bounced back to claim six Australian wickets for 95 runs. England's openers Boycott and Gooch remained not out at the end of play.

The following day, Saturday, I was playing for Offwell & Widworthy CC against Yarcombe & Stockland, a game that was always a fiercly contested affair between near neighbours. As I drove from Honiton I was listening on my car radio to the unfolding saga of England's first innings which was still being played out as I reached the cricket field at Stockland whose ground is in a lovely rural setting beside the village hall and tennis courts. It is surrounded by hedges and trees with a bank at one end, all of which provide natural boundaries. The wicket, like our own at Offwell, could be a little variable!

Getting out of my car I heard a voice, in the broad Devon vernacular, issuing instructions to various people. I knew instantly it was the dulcet tones of Gerald Lye, Stockland's skipper for many years. He greeted me as he usually did with an exaggerated, but friendly, 'Mr. Sturch' before again turning and amiably chastising some unfortunate member of his team. By this time most of Offwell players had arrived. After making use of the changing facilities in the village hall, we wandered onto the square subjecting the wicket to a close scrutiny, accompanied by suitable comments on its look and playability. Ted Beament and Gerald, the two skippers, tossed a coin to decide their preference to bat or bowl.

I'd like to add at this point, sometimes it wasn't the state of the wicket that dictated this decision. Milking, calving, silage, haymaking and occasionally childbirth were other important factors that had to be considered by rural skippers. A large number of village teams comprised of players who were sons of local farmers, or were even the farmer himself, and their presence at home sometimes took precedence over cricket. This could be manipulated depending on the players' ability with bat or ball. If a good batsman had to go home for the afternoon milking etc, always bat first. If he was a good bowler, always bowl first. In either case the state of the wicket was immaterial.

Although I can't remember the outcome of our match we chose to bat first. I know this because I sat on the boundary listening to England`s first innings demise on my radio while other Offwell players were at the crease.

Stockland probably opened the bowling with their two front line fast bowlers, Fred Drewe and Buzz Harris, after Gerald had assisted them set their field. This in itself was always something to behold and listen to. His instructions to his fielders took on a totally new language. Midway was a 'stone's throw' anything further a 'gunshot' or closer in a 'spit' plus various other instructions that never quite made the pages of Wisden. Some of the bowlers I remember Gerald could call on were himself, Ray Moore, Frank Crabb, Brian Rowland and Gerald Copp.

Offwell's batting order would have been: Ted Beament and John Connett followed by Chris Jarvis, myself, Dave Lapping, Gordon Fowler, Charlie Curshaw, John Beaments, Ian Seward, Peter Farmer and Roy Land.

After dismissing Offwell (or after tea, whichever came first) Stockland had a strong batting contingent to chase the runs with Gerald, Ray Moore, Fred Drewe, Roger Parris, Ian Rich (and his brothers) Johnny Woolacott, Mike Travers and Gerald Copp. Against them Offwell`s bowlers, John Connett, myself, Roy Land, Ted and John Beament, Dave Lapping and maybe even 'Foxy' Fowler with his slow tweakers.

I remember opting to field on the boundary to keep in touch as England slumped to 174 all out when tea was taken at Headingley. Only Botham with a quick-fire 50 made any impression. They were invited to follow-on by Hughes, the Australian captain, but after just three overs, and Gooch's dismissal, play was abandoned for the day because of bad light. Five minutes later bright sunshine bathed Headingley and the crowd gave vent to their annoyance. The odds being offered for an England win were 500-1 (which apparently both Lilley (£10) and Marsh (£5) took advantage of.) The last time a side won a Test following-on was England who beat Australia in 1894. Could history repeat itself?

If anybody still has the scorebook of Offwell's game at Stockland (or a better memory than mine) I would really like to hear from them as I have no recollection of the final result.

Sunday was a rest day at Headingley and Monday another work day both for England and me, although I felt mine would be more successful. I kept the radio on in the car, listening between farm calls. Boycott had batted with his usual determination and reached 41 before being out, trapped lbw. When Taylor was out for one Dilley joined Botham with England at 135-7 . He added a priceless 56 followed by Old with an equally welcome 29. Willis was the last man in and survived five balls before the end of Monday's play. With Botham on 145, England were now 124 runs ahead with an outside chance where none existed before.

On Tuesday I was working with a salesman in West Dorset and listening to the end of England's innings as Bob Willis contributed two of the five runs that were added before he was out. This left England`s total on 356, Botham finishing with 149 not out.

Australia began what looked like an easy task with all day in front of them to score 130 to win. At lunch they were 58-4. Willis had three wickets, Botham one and 67 runs needed to win. Old took his only wicket on the restart before Willis polished off the remaining batsmen and finished with 8-43. The impossible had happened. Botham`s total of 199 runs in the game was certainly the match saver but Willis's eight wickets was the match winner.

Two other games I listened to on the radio which I will always recall. The first was England`s 2nd Test victory at Edgbaston in 2005 against Australia which we won by just twoi runs. I couldn't watch it on TV as I was decorating the house we were moving into so I listened to the radio coverage. In actual fact, with Australia needing only five to win. I thought 'that's it' and drove to Seaton to collect some paint. I was walking to the shop when I heard two ladies talking. One telling the other how her husband had gone wild when England won. I actually asked her if she was talking about today`s game which she confirmed she was. 'Doh!'

The final game I listened to was Ben Stoke's innings at Headingley in England's ICC World Cup victory against New Zealand last year. We were at our caravan in Cornwall with no TV coverage so I sat in the car and listened to the whole game. Peter Kay's 'Car Share' had nothing on me!