Commentary thread

[Days of Grace]

Does anyone know how I can listen to Test Match Special on the internet or on TuneInRadio?

 

[Arachnodouche]

Strauss used the first person collective on so many occasions for England though. I know he's new to the gig but it's always annoying to hear commentators get possessive..ruins their credibility and makes me root for the other team. Healy does it all the time as well but he's a boor anyway. I like Strauss lots.

 

[Burgey]

I think TMS is on BBC Five Live. Alternatively you could get the feed from the ABC - they're taking the TMS coverage.

 

[GIMH]

Strauss used the first person collective on so many occasions for England though. I know he's new to the gig but it's always annoying to hear commentators get possessive..ruins their credibility and makes me root for the other team. Healy does it all the time as well but he's a boor anyway. I like Strauss lots.

Oh come on, even if Strauss didnt let that naturally slip into his commentary, would his allegiance be of any doubt?

In cricket, for whatever reasons TV doesn't really have specialist commentators and therefore your always going to have bias. As long as he doesn't have one eye shut and refuse to acknowledge any criticism of the England side I don't see the problem with him saying 'we'. He captained all bar one of these geezers after all.

 

[Maximas]

wasn't particularly enjoying Bumble yesterday either, I'd say he has had better days

 

[Arachnodouche]

Just a pet peeve but one would hope that a paid member of the commentary team would be able to contain himself better. I presume he's been called on as an unbiased observer, not a former England captain (though I can see how that plays into his overall tone). I don't recall ppl like Hussain, Atherton or even Shane Warne doing it.

 

[Adders]

Just a pet peeve but one would hope that a paid member of the commentary team would be able to contain himself better. I presume he's been called on as an unbiased observer, not a former England captain (though I can see how that plays into his overall tone). I don't recall ppl like Hussain, Atherton or even Shane Warne doing it.

Couldn't disagree with you more.........and it is very naive to think he is employed as an "unbiased observer"

That is one of the great things about having recently retired players in the commentary box, they give a lot of insight into the inner workings of a side and know the players game better than anyone else.

And it is folly to say that it is not clear who the likes of Atherton, Hussein or Warne etc are going for when they call a game. So long as these guys can objectively comment on the game and don't let their allegiance interfere with that who cares??

I do think there needs to be an "away" commentator doing stints though for balance.......I believe Warnie is joining the team at some point so look forward to that.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I do think there needs to be an "away" commentator doing stints though for balance.......I believe Warnie is joining the team at some point so look forward to that.

Completely agree. So often you're faced with only 'home' commentators who are unable to give any information, let alone insight into the opposition. One "away" representative is the bare minimum, IMO. Given the size of commentary teams these days, I think there should be room to accommodate two "away" representatives.

 

[King Pietersen]

I thought Strauss improved as the day went on, but initially he seemed nervous, stumbled on his words a few times, and used far too many cliches. His voice is also pretty grating too, but he did okay. Just a shame that Rob Key is still playing, he'd be an excellent permanent addition to the commentary team, and we're also missing Warnie too, he always does an excellent job, such a good cricket brain. Would pick Strauss over Knight and Botham though, that's for sure.

 

[MW1304]

Key's voice is even worse tbh but I do agree, he's a brilliant commentator.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah Key is class.

Like Mark Butcher as well but never seems to get a proper go with Sky.

 

[Nate]

Late to the party it seems, but Strauss' voice. #yucky

 

[vic_orthdox]

RE: the "we" stuff, it depends.

The Ian Healy style "We really need a wicket here" shouldn't be on.

But, like before when they were asking Struass about Broad and Swann with the DRS, saying that "we had a rule" is perfectly OK.

 

[uvelocity]

i liked strauss' voice

 

[Jono]

Late to the party it seems, but Strauss' voice. #yucky

(y)

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

The England cheerleading is a bit much at times but really this commentary team is so much better than what we get on Channel 9 during the home summer that I'm hard pressed to complain. They are mostly perfectly okay to listen to, varying to mildly annoying at worst. And, amazingly, they actually have stuff to say about the game sometimes that is worth vocalising.

 

[Furball]

The best thing about the Sky team is that the understand that not every single ball has to be a massive event.

 

[greg]

Don't know what it sounds like watching in a pub without sound, but why do Sky seem to obsess with thinking the audience wants to watch analysts standing in front of TV screens, rather than just talking over the pictures? Having analysts in front of screens halves the size of the screen, that's not mentioning when the analysts are actually blocking the view!

 

[Burgey]

Did enjoy Strauss' insights on day two

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Strauss says some good stuff but his tone of voice needs working on, a bit like Boring Bob. Early days though and may well improve in time.