A CRICKETING pioneer who brought test match action to radio listeners across the UK from his home in Brecon has been remembered.

Cricket commentator and former professional Jack Bannister who died last Friday, January 22 aged 85, helped swing the power of the game in favour of its players when he was involved in establishing the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).

Up until his death Jack had been commentating for radio station Talksport, but he no longer travelled to the world’s great cricket grounds.

Instead Jack would describe the action for listeners as he watched it unfold on a giant TV screen while sat in his home in Llanfaes, Brecon.

In the field, he was a formidable opponent for any batsmen - and over a 19 year first class career with Warwickshire he claimed 1,198 wickets. He had made his debut against Glamorgan at Swansea.

Following retirement Jack, who was born in Wolverhampton, set up in business as a bookmaker in his hometown.

He also established a successful career as a journalist and commentator, writing on the game for the Birmingham Post and commentating on and summarising the action on television and radio for the BBC until 1999.

Former England international and fellow Brecon resident Eric Russell, said he knew Jack as an opponent at the wicket but a comrade off the field.

Both had been involved in establishing the PCA.

Eric, who has lived in Brecon for the past 15 years, said former Glamorgan cricketer Peter Walker had told him Jack was also living locally: "Peter Walker is a very good friend of mine and he told me Jack was living in Brecon.

"We would bump into each other in Brecon and reminisce a little bit about the cricket. He was very involved in the PCA.

"Jack was a very fine medium, fast bowler during the 1950s and 60s and I was an opening batsman for Middlesex."

Eric had been involved in the initial committee which established the PCA in 1967 and also recalled a meeting, which Jack also attended, with Jimmy Hill.

The footballer, who also established a second career in sports broadcasting and who died just before Christmas, advised the cricketers having in 1961 helped abolish the maximum wage for footballers as chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Jack served as PCA secretary for 20 years and had also been its chairman and president. He was also instrumental in setting up a pension scheme for county players.

Jason Ratcliffe, assistant chief executive of the PCA and chairman of the Warwickshire Old County Cricketers’ Association, said: "Everyone at the PCA is very saddened to hear the news of Jack’s death and our thoughts go to his family, many friends and colleagues.

"Only yesterday we were editing footage for a new profile video for the PCA and we were going through the filming we did with Jack at his home in Brecon for his Special Merit Award in 2011.

"There is no denying that every cricketer owes Jack a huge debt of gratitude because he was one of the pioneers who were responsible for laying the foundations for the organisation we have now.

"Jack was always a players’ man and he worked tirelessly to improve pay and conditions for players during his long association with the PCA.

"He was a fantastic cricketer with an outstanding record for Warwickshire. After he retired from playing, Jack became an influential figure in the broadcasting box from where he continued to promote the game he loved."

Among those who paid tribute to Jack were Australian star Shane Warne and former England fast bowler Darren Gough who had worked with him at Talksport.