Best and Worst TV Commentators

[duffer]

The South African team is probably the worst in cricket. So home team centric you wouldn't think the other side counted. No real insight, just plain homerism.

 

[popepouri]

Don't get the Chappell love. He was a complete tool during the Aus/SA series.

Enjoy Pollock, Lloyd and Benaud.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Coney's always a good one whenever we can get him on.

 

[Satyanash89]

Satyanash summed up my views as well. Probably would give Ganguly 1 point more and Harsha 1 point less

Yeah... was tempted to give Ganguly one more but remembered his comment during the session break after the Ian Bell runout incident "I wouldnt have appealed" or something... yeah, dont kid yourself, Saurav... what a liar

Plus he's not like dravid where you are 100% sure the guy will speak sensible stuff... Ganguly has the capacity to lose it and go nuts, even though he hasnt quite done it so far in the combox

 

[cnerd123]

As much as I love the fact that Bhogle is one of the very, very few commentators to have no played top-level cricket...I really don't like him. Always feels like he is just pandering to the other former cricketers around them, and he very rarely has anything insightful to say. Just takes their opinions over and over, and when he gives his own thoughts they are just cliched and repeated.

His articles are better, slightly.

It's a shame there aren't more cricket 'fans' commentating, rather than just ex-players. So many article and blog writers would be so much more interesting and insightful to listen to. Test Match Sofa comes to mind. And the Two Chucks.

 

[smash84]

Geoffrey Boycott

 

[Red]

When Michael Slater just commentates, rather than trying to make things more exciting, I've really enjoyed him. Was good in the test series just gone. Turns in to a bit of a wanker around 20/20 time though.

 

[GIMH]

Dravid has been excellent on TMS. Objective and intelligent.

 

[Jono]

Have enjoyed listening to Dravid, Ganguly and Colly in this series. Gavaskar tried to be funny at times and failed, but was generally not as bad as in the past. Shastri was also willing to criticize the Indians while both surprisingly commented about the opposition a lot more than usual.

I remember Ishant bowling a good delivery to Compton and Compton did well to play it with soft hands, and instead of drooling all over the good ball by Ishant as they normally do, they talked about how Compton has shown a lot of determination in this series.

Still dislike them, but they were actually tolerable in this series.

Bhogle was an annoying **** as always.

What is it about him? Why is he so utterly useless? Has got an MBA from IIM-A (ranked 11th in the world by FT) ffs... Actually, that might be part of the problem I remember he was interviewing Lillee once, and the great man had to shush him because Bhogle was constantly interrupting him during the answers. Gets excited like a school-kid to be honest.

He was good back in 2003/04 on radio here in Australia when he toured. I think the more popular he's gotten, and the more people have been exposed to him, he's turned into a guy that always has to talk. He really gets ridiculously excited nowadays which is just cringeworthy. Not so bad when he writes and on Twitter.

Definitely in general is not a good TV commentator. He's okay on radio as with radio you have to keep on talking and having discussions, so he works well with the ABC radio team here in Australia.

But overall, he is basically India's Mark Nicholas. Jumping and hooting. His worst was "DIVE MONTY DIVE".

Ffs, the joke about Monty's fielding has been done.

 

[Spark]

When Michael Slater just commentates, rather than trying to make things more exciting, I've really enjoyed him. Was good in the test series just gone. Turns in to a bit of a wanker around 20/20 time though.

I can't think of a single commentator who doesn't become seriously difficult to listen to during a T20.

For the most part, though, I actually don't get too annoyed by commentary - unless it's Healy. Please, no more Healy. In fact I'm sure the two things are related: Healy is so bad that I look upon every other commentator in a fairly good light by way of comparison.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Healy is a total asshole. Ten years in the box and he hasn't learned to refrain from referring to the on field Aus team as "we". "We let them get too many/We've bowled brilliantly this morning".

Boycott and Benaud are the only two whose on-air personas haven't changed in the slightest over so many years. Maybe that says something about them as people too.

 

[Jono]

I think its universally accepted Healy is a **** commentator.

There's often talk about Lawry being biased, but I actually think he's one of the best about complimenting the opposition when they are playing really well. I think because he used to get really excited about Gilly and some other great cricketers (and really, no harm in getting excited watching ATGs playing the game) he has been unfairly painted as biased.

He definitely lacks knowledge about international cricketers - generally knows nothing about new opposition players. But he's not biased.

 

[SJS]

Dravid is really good. Wish he did not look as if life was a pain in the ass. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would have been one of India's finest captains if he had just a hint of a sense of humour as well.

There are so many good commentators from England and Australia but Boycott is a personal favourite as is Chappell. Nasser Hussain was a real revelation. One ex English cricketing great I don't much care for behind the mike is Sir Ian

 

[Arachnodouche]

I think its universally accepted Healy is a **** commentator.

There's often talk about Lawry being biased, but I actually think he's one of the best about complimenting the opposition when they are playing really well. I think because he used to get really excited about Gilly and some other great cricketers (and really, no harm in getting excited watching ATGs playing the game) he has been unfairly painted as biased.

He definitely lacks knowledge about international cricketers - generally knows nothing about new opposition players. But he's not biased.

Lawry is great..always loved him far more than his equally ebullient but more obnoxious counterpart in Tony Greig. He gets caught up in the moment but I like that about him. Never known him to be unfair, and I've heard him acknowledge greats of the game from all over the world.

 

[Flem274*]

I've never really had an issue with Lawry that I can remember. Taylor and Slater also all g. For me Healy is Healy, Nicholas gives gobbies to Australia and Grieg is a patronising wanker. Chappell either makes me nod in agreement or cringe, often in the same session, but at least he makes me care about what he has to say, which must say something for him.

 

[cnerd123]

Dravid is really good. Wish he did not look as if life was a pain in the ass. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would have been one of India's finest captains if he had just a hint of a sense of humour as well.

There are so many good commentators from England and Australia but Boycott is a personal favourite as is Chappell. Nasser Hussain was a real revelation. One ex English cricketing great I don't much care for behind the mike is Sir Ian

Rahul Dravid mimics Sachin Tendulkar - YouTube

 

[GotSpin]

The problem with the fellas from nine is the incessant talking. Just let the cricket entertain us. The guys from ABC are excellent though. Love it.

 

[Blain]

Worst for me, Danny Morrison. Favourite, Jeremy Coney. Wish he was still a regular!

 

[Burgey]

The problem with the fellas from nine is the incessant talking. Just let the cricket entertain us. The guys from ABC are excellent though. Love it.

That's got much worse with three in the commentary box at once. Much worse.

 

[Mike5181]

Worst for me, Danny Morrison. Favourite, Jeremy Coney. Wish he was still a regular!

What I want to know is how the **** we ended up with Craig McMillan as our main commentator? Surely there's someone better than him.