The most disgraceful commentary I have ever heard

[Richard]

Nicholas' laugh wasn't because he found it funny, though he probably did, but its his overreaction as to what great cricket it was, as usual. He's just like "what brilliant television..."

Well... when your job is to be on television and you need good television to keep your job...

(Especially given that not so long ago he lost his long-term, seemingly-secure role as C4 frontman)

 

[Langeveldt]

I'm sorry but if you give India a lead of 120, they would not have lost that game. Chasing 280-300 would have been very tough.

Boucher and Pollock's partnership was vital, they got the lead down to only 41. But when the both of them just arrived at the crease India were well on top, and for him to suggest SA were better off getting all out for not many more runs was ridiculous.

Fair comment, I think Jackers said the right thing, he just got his numbers slightly wrong, I'd have said anything below about 80

 

[Son Of Coco]

It's more Jim's cricketing terms that bother me, if he spent less time making words up and more time working out what was happening it'd be a better broadcast, numerous times I've heard him say: "OUT!!!! No, it's gone for four."

Jim Maxwell who's routinely recognised as Australia's best radio commentator...?

That'd be the one...I'm not into routines. And recognised by whom?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Never 'eard of 'im.

If he's better than Jim Maxwell he must be good, though, and I'm amazed he's never been on TMS (the way JM and Neil Manthorp invariably are when Aus and SA respectively are the opponents).

To be honest, I'm not surprised you think Jim Maxwell's brilliant. It doesn't restore my faith in him though.

 

[archie mac]

That's stock-in-trade - almost invariably, radio commentators are acknowledged as better than TV ones.

Wonder why that might be now...

Radio commentators have an easy ride compared to TV ones. They're supposed to talk all the time, and they have the chance to do a better job.

Yet some people just expect silence or insight (and frankly, only about once an over can you add to what the TV pictures are showing) which is a ridiculous expectation.

I have often heard this said, but it is surprising how many people listen to the radio while watching the Tele.

Also while at the ground for the 4th Test you could purchase a little radio that would broadcast either the radio or ch9 most people around me seemed to have chosen the radio. This again would seem to challenge this theory that people only want the TV commentator to add to the picture

 

[open365]

The most annoying bit of commentary i heard was today when Ian Botham called Vikram Solanki the forgotten man of England's ODI set up.

 

[Buddhmaster]

I like our commentary team. I hate Mark Nicholas more than just about anyone in the world, but the rest are fine. Lawry is as biased as it gets (although some of the Sth African's on Fox aren't much better) but he's funny as hell. Healy really has no idea which is enjoyable to listen to. Richie and Chappell are experienced and just do their job. Tubby Taylor's not my favourite, but he doesn't annoy me as much, and Slats is just a legend.

 

[Smudge]

Morrison is terrible, but that's about it.

I have good and bad news for you, Fuller. The good news is he's no longer commentating.


The bad news? He's moved to Australia.

 

[Smudge]

Not everything that happens on the screen when you're commentating and Australia are playing should be recorded, with the tape placed in a glass protection place for us to treasure forever.

Later to turn up on baggygreen.com.au in the memorabilia section, retailing for $499 + $49 p+p. Each video tape signed by the commentators involved and it comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Limited to just the 500.

 

[Fiery]

I have good and bad news for you, Fuller. The good news is he's no longer commentating.


The bad news? He's moved to Australia.

What do you guys not like about Morrison? I like his dry humour

 

[Craig]

ATM I can't stand Mark Nicholas, Bill Lawry can be annoying, while Tony Grieg can be quite funny in how he jumps for the opposition and will suddenly be backing South Africa, England or even Sri Lanka, where he has this 'Aunt' somewhere in the hills in Sri Lanka. Ian Chappel has a 'thing' for Monty Panesar, James Anderson, and Kevin Pietersen. Ditto for Richie Benaud as he knows his stuff but he has lost some of his touch of the years, while Michael Slater is not bad, Mark Taylor average and less about Ian Healy the better.

As for the New Zealand commentators, in my experience Jeremy Coney is or was certaintly going back a two or three years was the best of the lot.

 

[Johnners]

Actually, of all the commentators, Tubbs has improved the most after Slater imo. Despite the obvious gimpiness, he actually does know a little about cricket, and started this season to talk whole lot more sense than a lot of the other chaps in the box (Lawry, Greig, Chappeli & Heals in particular).

btw...

Post number 2000

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah Taylor has definitely improved. He used to be a horrible commentator, now he's passable. I guess experience helps, since he certainly has the knowledge to give interesting insights.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Boycott has to be the king of all commentators, what a legend.

 

[The Baconator]

Watching the BBC highlights yesterday, can see what EWS is on about. The worst bit on that for mine when was Symonds took a relatively simple catch in the outfield and someone (Lawry?) said "Oh what an outfielder!" or something similar.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Lawry is really biased. He said that Michael Clarke was a better player than every England batsman once, fool.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Watching the BBC highlights yesterday, can see what EWS is on about. The worst bit on that for mine when was Symonds took a relatively simple catch in the outfield and someone (Lawry?) said "Oh what an outfielder!" or something similar.

I don't really see that as an issue of bias. To begin with, Symonds is an amazingly good outfielder, and makes fairly tricky catches look unbelievably easy. It's one of the most notable things about him as a fielder actually, how good he is in the outfield when he gets put out there. And besides, Lawry's role in the team is as a cheerleader, and he gets excited over everything. Not that Lawry isn't biased, as he obviously is and has always played that role in the team, but that's not the best example.

 

[Jono]

Lawry is really biased. He said that Michael Clarke was a better player than every England batsman once, fool.

In ODI cricket only Pietersen is better, i.e. a better batsman. Maybe not the better overall player when you take the whole package.

Clarke is the most underrated ODI cricketer. Gets overshadowed because of the brilliance of Australia's other ODI batsman, Gilly, Ponting, Symonds and Hussey. Gun batsman anywhere in the top 7, brilliant fielder and quite a handy bowler.

If he meant test cricket, its a pretty dodgy call.

 

[PhoenixFire]

In ODI cricket only Pietersen is better, i.e. a better batsman. Maybe not the better overall player when you take the whole package.

Clarke is the most underrated ODI cricketer. Gun batsman anywhere in the top 7, brilliant fielder and quite a handy bowler.

If he meant test cricket, its a pretty dodgy call.

He was talking about Tests.

 

[The Baconator]

I don't really see that as an issue of bias. To begin with, Symonds is an amazingly good outfielder, and makes fairly tricky catches look unbelievably easy. It's one of the most notable things about him as a fielder actually, how good he is in the outfield when he gets put out there. And besides, Lawry's role in the team is as a cheerleader, and he gets excited over everything. Not that Lawry isn't biased, as he obviously is and has always played that role in the team, but that's not the best example.

Like I said, that was the best example I heard on the BBC, where there was probably only about half an hour of coverage. It wasn't just that quote as such, but they did seem to make far too big a deal of an easy catch for a brilliant fielder. It also annoyed that they went for a while without mentioning how well Pietersen played or anything.