THAT iconic, booming voice remains as strong as ever, but after suffering a stroke back in August, commentary great Jim Maxwell will this summer focus on recovery and rehabilitation rather than cricket.

Maxwell was on air in a Sydney studio in the early morning hours calling the Rio Olympics for the ABC last month when he took a turn and was rushed to hospital.

The 66-year-old was paralysed down his right side, but there is now significant inroads being made for Maxwell who has started to regain mobility and can now walk with assistance.

He is keen to help spread awareness about recognising the symptoms of strokes as part of National Stroke Week and has written about his experiences in his book The Sound of Summer which will be released on October 12 by Allen and Unwin.

Maxwell told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday he was enormously grateful to the staff at Sacred Heart rehabilitation centre at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney that are aiding him on the road to recovery.

media_camera ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell.

“I’m travelling well, put it that way,” he said.

“If my leg and arm were as good as my voice I’d be running out of the place now. Luckily I haven’t lost my voice but I’m just a bit immobile.

“I would say thanks to the staff at Sacred Heart I’ve recovered amazingly. If you’re going to go to rehab this is the place to be going, they’re brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

“I can walk with help, that’s how far I’ve got.”

The cricketing airwaves won’t be the same this summer without Maxwell who has called more than 285 Test matches on the ABC since 1973, including six tours of the West Indies, seven to the subcontinent, over 50 Ashes Tests and five World Cups.

Along with the late Richie Benaud, radio man Maxwell has for five decades stood tall as the voice of cricket in Australia.

But the good news is Maxwell is tackling his health battle with the same enthusiasm and passion that’s defined his revered commentary career.

media_camera The cover of Jim Maxwell’s memoir.

“It might be some time before I am back on air, as commentary boxes are rarely conveniently located,” Maxwell writes in his book.

“For now I have a more personal battle to contend with. Life takes some strange turns.”

Around 50,000 Australians suffer strokes every year and people are urged to familiarise themselves with stroke signs. Go to enableme.org.au for more information on stroke recovery.

The Sound of Summer by Jim Maxwell will be go on sale from Allen and Unwin for $39.99 on October 12.