Greg Baum retires at the top of his game – but there is some good news

Under the guidance of our head of sport, Chloe Saltau, and newly recruited sports editor Eliza Sewell, and thanks to the many talented reporters at their disposal, The Age consistently generates what I believe is the highest quality sports reporting in the country. The team’s coverage of this month’s Australian Open has surely reminded us all of that.

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During farewell speeches today, Baum was mentioned in the same breath as some legends of The Age’s sports desk: Martin Flanagan, Wilson and Les Carlyon. Praise he absolutely deserves. Baum spoke of his high hopes for our current generation of reporters, acknowledging their immense talent and drive. I am hopeful that among them is the next Baum, Wilson, Flanagan or Carlyon.

I leave you with a quote from Baum himself, written after Ben Stokes’ match-winning innings at Leeds in the August 2019 Test. The quote could equally be applied to Baum’s glittering career as it was to Stokes’ batting.

“Call off Test cricket. In fact, call off all cricket. Not because it could never get any worse than this, but because how could it ever be better, surely? Let’s all die happy now, or only a little bit sad, and permanently awe-struck.”

See you next summer, Greg.

• With thanks to Chloe Saltau and former sports editor Patrick Smithers, who contributed to this newsletter.

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