I certainly pine for the days of Sports Roundup, I know that cricket commentary no longer being on Radio Sport is a bad thing, but I find it difficult to listen to anyway.
I don't do a drive commute and I'm not a potterer around in my shed kind of guy. So these days the only time I would listen to Radio Sport is when there is a cricket test on, and I might stream via I Heart Radio to my phone while walking home. So only 5 to 10 times a year.
I used to listen much, much more when they had the Australian radio broadcasting rights. And would tue it a lot during an Ashes summer.
Which is kind of getting to my point.
The Australian broadcasts would still be of a good quality with experienced commentators, grounded in the public broadcasting conditions of the ABC.
As RS don't do any Plunket Shield cricket broadcasting anymore for the 15 or so years - the quality of the main commentator (apart from Waddle and G Galloway for Christchurch test) is extremely difficult to listen to. There is no flow.
You can tell they have a checklist of 'how to paint a picture via words' that they've had passed down to them by the old commentary greats but they have trouble implementing it in a smooth and natural manner.
I don't need to be told 6 times an over that Wagner is bowling with his left arm. I also don't need to be told after or before every ball if he is bowling over or around the wicket. Just tell me once per over and when he changes.
By the time the commentator has interrupted his co-comments expert (mid interesting story or analysis) at the start of the bowlers run up to describe the runup, over/round the wicket, which arm, the shot (actually essential) then told how many metres from the fielder it has dribbled, the fielders name, then described the field setting (6 times and over), then told us the score (6 times and over) .... then back to you Coney, Petrie or McSweeney to continue your interesting story/analysis ... for 10 seconds before I interrupt you again with the fascinating news that Wagner is about to run in again , not sure yet which arm he will be using .....
It's a hard job, I'm sure, and filling in time between a producer patching in talkback is their apprenticeship.