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NZ domestic season 2023/24

DougieRydal

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
The level of commentary on offer now IMO actually takes away from the game, it's so amateur, makes the game look 2nd rate. I don't know what the answer is, but I do know usually within 5 mins of it being on, I feel the need to turn it off, or at least mute it...

Rolls, & Martin are terrible, Rolls just has a monotone voice, Martin tries too hard, calls everyone 'mate' when talking to the mic'd up player (don't get me started on that 'innovation' - cringey at best, excruciating at worst).

I think Frankie MacKay is one of the best.

The guy Paul Allison who commentated from Alexandra yesterday got all excited over an obvious 'crowd catch'.

Jake Oram might be the best of the newer commentators, but jeez it's a low bar...

I'd much rather listen to some of the ACC commentators (in 'normal' mode for this TVNZ audience) before the vast majority of these guys. They have interesting voices, & most of them know their cricket (Hoyte, Wells etc)
 

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
The level of commentary on offer now IMO actually takes away from the game, it's so amateur, makes the game look 2nd rate. I don't know what the answer is, but I do know usually within 5 mins of it being on, I feel the need to turn it off, or at least mute it...

Rolls, & Martin are terrible, Rolls just has a monotone voice, Martin tries too hard, calls everyone 'mate' when talking to the mic'd up player (don't get me started on that 'innovation' - cringey at best, excruciating at worst).

I think Frankie MacKay is one of the best.

The guy Paul Allison who commentated from Alexandra yesterday got all excited over an obvious 'crowd catch'.

Jake Oram might be the best of the newer commentators, but jeez it's a low bar...

I'd much rather listen to some of the ACC commentators (in 'normal' mode for this TVNZ audience) before the vast majority of these guys. They have interesting voices, & most of them know their cricket (Hoyte, Wells etc)
Agree with this except Oram sends me to sleep and is also monotonous. MacKay could get a bit more excited at times too.

Then there's the main commentator who is 100% excitement 100% of the time.

Tbh this season I've just started watching all games on mute all the time. I can't listen to it. Wish they had a feed which was just crowd noise.
 

DougieRydal

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
Agree with this except Oram sends me to sleep and is also monotonous. MacKay could get a bit more excited at times too.

Then there's the main commentator who is 100% excitement 100% of the time.

Tbh this season I've just started watching all games on mute all the time. I can't listen to it. Wish they had a feed which was just crowd noise.
Yes, this - it should be an option from broadcasters...
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Watching Henry Nicholls bat in NZ domestics reminds me so much of every fading/struggling international batsman ever; who got given a shot against New Zealand, and immediately proceeded to rack up a massive hundred and thereby securing their place in the side for another 12 months
This is why Sinclair's career never worked out. Never had the career pressure release of playing against NZ.
 

DougieRydal

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
Give them a chance to be a 'normal' ball by ball commentator and I don't think that aspect is there.

Re 'mates' - no not a fan of that, and also I can't stand them using nicknames when talking to or even worse when referring to a player. How hard is it? Surely we all have friends who we call by their nickname when talking about them in among that friend group, but use their real name if referring to them outside of it.

I wonder how much training they get too. I'm sure the powers that be, just think 'Ooh, they've played international cricket, they must be able to be a commentator' Do they interview prospective commentators? Do they get them to practice? Then you can make a decision based on their ability to communicate, or the sound of their voice etc. I'm convinced they don't do any of that...

That's why people like some of the ACC can do it, they use their voice for a living. (although they'd probably want to be paid more than TVNZ are offering, which is maybe another reason they go for ex internationals who are probably delighted to do it for next to nothing)
 
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The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
I'm actually planning to sync up SENZ radio when internationals are being played, they sound quite decent from what I've heard so far.
 

Chubb

International Regular
ACC are too cliquey for my liking. Loads of in jokes that aren’t funny unless you listen all the time. I do hate the closeness of the commentators to the players - all this ‘mate’ business. Sure, they can be mates but can we just have a little more professionalism?
The ACC are just a bunch of woke libtards who are too cool for school. :dry:
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
I'm actually planning to sync up SENZ radio when internationals are being played, they sound quite decent from what I've heard so far.
Radio commentators are, and will always be the best of the breed. You have to have decent chops to be on radio, no pictures to save you and the obvious never feels that way. Plus, TV is where the cool factor and the money come from. Inviting in ex players who are not usually up to it, but also involve themselves in that circle jerk cool kids club banter stuff.

If I named 10 of my favourite commentators, I'm not sure a single one of them did more TV than radio.
 

The Hutt Rec

International Vice-Captain
Radio commentators are, and will always be the best of the breed. You have to have decent chops to be on radio, no pictures to save you and the obvious never feels that way. Plus, TV is where the cool factor and the money come from. Inviting in ex players who are not usually up to it, but also involve themselves in that circle jerk cool kids club banter stuff.

If I named 10 of my favourite commentators, I'm not sure a single one of them did more TV than radio.
It's nice to actually have it back on the airwaves in the car with SENZ as well. Every time I tried to tune into Magic FM I seemed to end up with Peter Williams going on about covid conspiracies.
 

DougieRydal

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
Listening just now, with Maddie Green mic'd up it's actually a decent listen, mainly because Grant Elliott has often just let her speak, and because she is the captain you can hear her chat with the bowler, set the field etc.

Conclusion, mic'ing up the skipper might work, nothing else does, as it's just inane chat.
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
It's nice to actually have it back on the airwaves in the car with SENZ as well. Every time I tried to tune into Magic FM I seemed to end up with Peter Williams going on about covid conspiracies.
Yeah bloody hell...what happened to that guy.

I love/loved Coney, Waddle, CMJ was great, Jim Maxwell, even the ball by ball guys around the country like Steve Davie, Allen McLaughlin, the incomparable Ron Snowden etc...those guys were no egos and pure entertainment
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
Daily reminder that every T20 ive attended at EPOO Ive walked away with one of the balls that got hit for 6.

If I was there today, presumably Id have been in that uber
 

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