Best and worst cricket journalists

[armchairumpire]

Ian Smith wouldn't be far off either, I read an article of his today and he said "McCullum is the second best wicket-keeper batsman in ODI's, second only to Gilchrist. His glovework is already better than the Australians" Felt like yelling at somebody.

Well someone has to say nice things about NZ cricket! I think Gideon Haigh writes really well.

 

[Fiery]

I wasn't dencouning Smith's lack of knowledge about wicket keeping but the fact he completely forgot about Dhoni and Sangakarra, two wicket keeper-batsman who are better than McCullum in ODI's by a fair way.

Yeah, fair enough mate. Most people would agree with you on that

 

[Slow Love™]

I wish he would write more on cricket...has pretty much stopped I think... Of the others, I used to like Manthorp, but his last few articles, the one on Gibbs didn't really impress me much..Lawrence Booth, is quite funny as The Spin...

Craddock is definitely the worst..

Yeah, I really liked Varma's 23 Yards blog, and the stuff he was doing in Wicket to Wicket. He seems to be relegated to audio domestic reports at cricinfo now, is he still the Indian managing editor? Either way, most of his writing time these days seems to be spent at his general blog, India Uncut, with the odd piece at the Guardian.

And funny that I forgot Lawrence Booth's column, I seeing as I have an email subscription to it.

 

[FRAZ]

Yeah, I really liked Varma's 23 Yards blog, and the stuff he was doing in Wicket to Wicket. He seems to be relegated to audio domestic reports at cricinfo now, is he still the Indian managing editor? Either way, most of his writing time these days seems to be spent at his general blog, India Uncut, with the odd piece at the Guardian.

And funny that I forgot Lawrence Booth's column, I seeing as I have an email subscription to it.

Varma creats relatively digestable stuff outta sub-continental lot .

 

[thierry henry]

Everyone from NZ is terrible. I used to not mind Richard Boock but have realised he is actually a first class knob. Seems to think he is a comedy writer or something, and never seems to be able to give anyone genuine praise.

 

[Fiery]

Everyone from NZ is terrible.

A rather broad generalisation there I think thierry. Prepare to suffer the wrath of Voltman

 

[thierry henry]

I imagine him being dire too. I can just see him either (a) trying too hard to be "hard hitting" and "pull no punches", or (b) being funny and sarcastic about everything. These are the downfalls of the NZ sports journalist imo.

 

[Fiery]

I imagine him being dire too. I can just see him either (a) trying too hard to be "hard hitting" and "pull no punches", or (b) being funny and sarcastic about everything. These are the downfalls of the NZ sports journalist imo.

Give me an example of a writer you do like from somewhere else. IMO a good journalist IS hard-hitting and pulls no punches, and injects some humour which is why I like guys like Chris Rattue and Richard Boock, although I do get the sense sometimes that some of Boock's writing can be slightly vindictive and is probably influenced by personal dealings at times. I would rather read that sort of thing than a colourless description of the events of a game when I've usually already watched it myself.

 

[thierry henry]

Hard-hitting is a euphemism for bull****. Reality is rarely "hard-hitting". To be consistently "hard hitting" you have to consistently exaggerate. Someone like Boock for instance, makes everything out to be a major drama, and it's very transparent.

ftr, and tbh, I don't know what journalist I like. Mostly I just read the NZ newspapers and as I say, I don't rate any of them. Apart from that I read articles on cricinfo based mostly on subject matter, and I post on forums.

 

[Fiery]

Hard-hitting is a euphemism for bull****. Reality is rarely "hard-hitting". To be consistently "hard hitting" you have to consistently exaggerate. Someone like Boock for instance, makes everything out to be a major drama, and it's very transparent.

ftr, and tbh, I don't know what journalist I like. Mostly I just read the NZ newspapers and as I say, I don't rate any of them. Apart from that I read articles on cricinfo based mostly on subject matter, and I post on forums.

Fair enough. Not sure I agree entirely that hard-hitting is a euphemism for bull**** but can see where you are coming from. Stating the obvious I know but Boock's job is to write stories that will help his bosses sell more papers, so of course he will dramatise and sensationalise things. I like having the best of both worlds...I would be just as happy reading The Sun as I would one of the conservative broadsheets on the tube when I was living in London and also enjoy the opinions of people all over the world on this website...(except when people are singing the praises of players like Shane Watson )

 

[thierry henry]

Hey Fiery, kudos for editing the post just to spell my name correctly

 

[Fiery]

Hey Fiery, kudos for editing the post just to spell my name correctly

haha, no worries. It just didn't look right on 2nd glance

 

[Langeveldt]

Neil Manthorp
Jonathon Agnew

HUGE GAP

The rest

 

[burr]

Definitely Gideon Haigh. He stands out like a beacon amongst cricket writers. And he is that. A writer. As opposed to a journalist. Reading his blog during the Ashes was so much fun.

I have major issues with Peter Roebuck. He tries to be a writer, and perhaps thinks because he studied at Cambridge he is one. The man has no talent. It’s a sad fact. Those painful, painful analogies and metaphors. The over-wrought style stuffed with pseudo literary references. It’s, well…painful.

Good topic by the way.

 

[Smudge]

Voltman

(If he covers cricket as well, but I'll include him anyway)

Do I ever. I somehow eke three stories out of one weekend of club cricket in crappy old Oamaru...

I'm a Boock fan.

 

[Smudge]

I imagine him being dire too. I can just see him either (a) trying too hard to be "hard hitting" and "pull no punches", or (b) being funny and sarcastic about everything. These are the downfalls of the NZ sports journalist imo.

I'll wait until you read something of mine. Until then, I couldn't give two ****s what you think.

 

[thierry henry]

lol emo

 

[Perm]

lol emo

You obviously don't know Volty, I don't think he has real feelings.

 

[Smudge]

You obviously don't know Volty, I don't think he has real feelings.

I never learned to love.

 

[Perm]

I never learned to love.

Doesn't suprise me, although I am looking forward to the backlash from the failed booty call.