Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Ian Chappell
Strangely, I'm going to give him a good rating here. A year or so ago, I would have given him a 1, but he's grown on me. I don't always agree with what he says, but unlike the rest, his opinions worth listening to. The way he goes on and on and on about things is somewhat annoying, but I do the same at home when I'm watching the cricket and I do the same on CW in match threads. As has been mentioned, the former captain comes out in him, so he's always commenting on captaincy and selection - repeating his thoughts over and over whenever applicable. He loves Ponting too much and he's bit too much on the "attacking batting" bandwagon, but other than that he's pretty damn good. I've changed my tune.
9.0
Richie Benaud
I never really understood the fuss, and I never actually notice him much when he's on. However, that's a good thing I guess, because it means he's not saying something completely stupid unlike the rest of the mopheads.
7.5
Mark Taylor
I left him out originally and had to edit him in. Strange really, as I don't mind him. He's not a great broadcaster and he's hard to listen to which lowers his mark, but what he actually says is usually fine and he's not afraid to say what he thinks even if he's disagreeing with one of the other drones, which is something that can't be said of most of the others.
7.0
Mark Nicholas
I liked him when he first arrived, then I didn't, then I did, then I started reading comments of people on here explaining why they didn't like him and annoyingly started noticing them for the first time. I certainly don't enjoy him commentating games of cricket which aren't terribly important (especially Twenty20 fixtures) because he over-emphasises the importance of everything, but all things considered, he's not that bad.
6.5
Michael Slater
I expected more from him. He's a good example of how Channel Nine give commentators roles and things to talk about which really takes away from how good they could be, because I always thought he was pretty good before he joined Nine. Overall, not really horrible, but he talks about Michael Clarke way too much and focuses too much on "attractive cricket" rather than the match situation.
5.5
Tony Greig
Given how biased the rest of lot are, his role is very much needed. He makes too much of a joke of it though and ends up too biased the other way, deliberately, which really makes him just as cringeworthy to listen to as everyone else. Has a role to play which no-one else on the staff could do, but does it fairly poorly, apart from his pitch reports which has been mentioned. They drag him up from the 3 I was going to give him originally.
4.0
Simon O'Donnell
He doesn't do much actually commentary these days and generally sticks to his Cricket Show work which is top rate. However, on the occasion he is in the box, he's pretty poor. Doesn't add anything and is usually worth a stupid comment per stint.
3.5
Ian Healy
Oft criticised as the worst of the lot, he's not that bad. Well, okay, he's bad, but there are worse. He's required for wicket keeping analysis (even if he does think Matthew Wade plays for Western Australia..) and he provides some comedic relief. He doesn't really say anything insightful, but at least he doesn't open his mouth and say absurb things which make me want to tear my hair out.
3.5
Bill Lawry
Awful, awful commentator. Ridiculously biased and even more hypocritical in his views about batting. Given how he batted, it's remakable. Really more of a cheerleader than a commentator, who looks for reasons to talk up the Australian team and bag the opposition.
0.0
Strangely, I'm going to give him a good rating here. A year or so ago, I would have given him a 1, but he's grown on me. I don't always agree with what he says, but unlike the rest, his opinions worth listening to. The way he goes on and on and on about things is somewhat annoying, but I do the same at home when I'm watching the cricket and I do the same on CW in match threads. As has been mentioned, the former captain comes out in him, so he's always commenting on captaincy and selection - repeating his thoughts over and over whenever applicable. He loves Ponting too much and he's bit too much on the "attacking batting" bandwagon, but other than that he's pretty damn good. I've changed my tune.
9.0
Richie Benaud
I never really understood the fuss, and I never actually notice him much when he's on. However, that's a good thing I guess, because it means he's not saying something completely stupid unlike the rest of the mopheads.
7.5
Mark Taylor
I left him out originally and had to edit him in. Strange really, as I don't mind him. He's not a great broadcaster and he's hard to listen to which lowers his mark, but what he actually says is usually fine and he's not afraid to say what he thinks even if he's disagreeing with one of the other drones, which is something that can't be said of most of the others.
7.0
Mark Nicholas
I liked him when he first arrived, then I didn't, then I did, then I started reading comments of people on here explaining why they didn't like him and annoyingly started noticing them for the first time. I certainly don't enjoy him commentating games of cricket which aren't terribly important (especially Twenty20 fixtures) because he over-emphasises the importance of everything, but all things considered, he's not that bad.
6.5
Michael Slater
I expected more from him. He's a good example of how Channel Nine give commentators roles and things to talk about which really takes away from how good they could be, because I always thought he was pretty good before he joined Nine. Overall, not really horrible, but he talks about Michael Clarke way too much and focuses too much on "attractive cricket" rather than the match situation.
5.5
Tony Greig
Given how biased the rest of lot are, his role is very much needed. He makes too much of a joke of it though and ends up too biased the other way, deliberately, which really makes him just as cringeworthy to listen to as everyone else. Has a role to play which no-one else on the staff could do, but does it fairly poorly, apart from his pitch reports which has been mentioned. They drag him up from the 3 I was going to give him originally.
4.0
Simon O'Donnell
He doesn't do much actually commentary these days and generally sticks to his Cricket Show work which is top rate. However, on the occasion he is in the box, he's pretty poor. Doesn't add anything and is usually worth a stupid comment per stint.
3.5
Ian Healy
Oft criticised as the worst of the lot, he's not that bad. Well, okay, he's bad, but there are worse. He's required for wicket keeping analysis (even if he does think Matthew Wade plays for Western Australia..) and he provides some comedic relief. He doesn't really say anything insightful, but at least he doesn't open his mouth and say absurb things which make me want to tear my hair out.
3.5
Bill Lawry
Awful, awful commentator. Ridiculously biased and even more hypocritical in his views about batting. Given how he batted, it's remakable. Really more of a cheerleader than a commentator, who looks for reasons to talk up the Australian team and bag the opposition.
0.0
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