NZ domestic season 2023/24

[Bahnz]

How did Wgtn lose to this shower.

All the players who usually keep them competitive are either benched, injured or playing for NZ

 

[Prince EWS]

I really hated that from Smith. I'm not a fan of Sumo's commentary, but there's zero need to so publicly and dismissively **** on someone who's just trying to do their job to the best of their (albeit limited) ability. I guess he feels bitter about NZC going with Spark back in 2019 - that's fine, he's entitled to his opinion. But **** me, if Smitty got called out by his fellow commentators everytime he acted like a **** behind a microphone he'd never get a word in.

I thought it was tongue in cheek tbh.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Cmon ND, regroup for your next game vs Auckland and give Wellington a chance of a home final!!!

 

[The Hutt Rec]

All the players who usually keep them competitive are either benched, injured or playing for NZ

Umm, excuse me, according to the Spark commentary that’s the Wellington side that has no international players and that’s why they’re successful.

They were only missing Ravindra, Bracewell, Conway, Sears, Milne, Blundell and Robinson.

 

[Prince EWS]

****ing ***** ND getting smashed by so much that CD actually dropped a place on the ladder despite beating 1st and 2nd in successive games.

I hate you all. Especially Wellington.

But especially ND.

 

[ataraxia]

****ing ****s ND getting smashed by so much that CD actually dropped a place on the ladder despite beating 1st and 2nd in successive games.

I have you all. Especially Wellington.

But especially ND.

... and you said the only cricket team you cared about these days was NSW.

 

[Prince EWS]

... and you said the only cricket team you cared about these days was NSW.

 

[Prince EWS]

In all seriousness, because my schedule allowed me to watch so much Super Smash this year, I'm more invested in the Stags than I have been in any T20 side for a decade or more. If you go back through the archives you'll see me pretty earnestly supporting CD in the PS a decade ago but this is an outlier because I watched heaps of it.

Also: Dougeh.

 

[thierry henry]

I actually think Ian Smith was joking, or thought it would've been perceived as joking by the Australian audience, even if there is some genuine venom behind it.

The biggest issue with Smith remains this ridiculous notion that he's a good commentator.

 

[ataraxia]

Playful jibe IMO.

 

[SteveNZ]

I actually think Ian Smith was joking, or thought it would've been perceived as joking by the Australian audience, even if there is some genuine venom behind it.

The biggest issue with Smith remains this ridiculous notion that he's a good commentator.

I'd bet my left one he meant it. And that's the best looking one. The way he delivered it, he crowbarred into the discussion - there was zero reason to. It didn't sound playful, it sounded spiteful. I can almost guarantee you Smithy is no fan of the current way cricket is presented.

The Australian crowd wouldn't have known how to perceive it given they know nothing that happens outside their border, or even often inside. The general Australian cricket fan is an abhorrent beast.

And why isn't Smithy a good commentator?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I'd bet my left one he meant it. And that's the best looking one. The way he delivered it, he crowbarred into the discussion - there was zero reason to. It didn't sound playful, it sounded spiteful. I can almost guarantee you Smithy is no fan of the current way cricket is presented.

Yep, far be it from me to agree with Steve, I struggle to comprehend how anyone could perceive those comments as anything other than venomous. It didn't sound 'playful' in any way.

 

[DougieRydal]

Ruddy face...laughs loudly at his own **** jokes...Yep, checks out

I mean, we do forget pretty quickly we used to complain about the SKY commentators, too.

I liked Stevenson when he did rugby for SKY. He was a cheerleader, but I didn't mind that - knew the game, got on well with the players, wanted the best for the sport. But then SKY ousted him, and he started going dog on the NZRU immediately. Wrote a lot of anti-NZRU stuff, not a peep before that. I wish McMillan and co would just say to him mate, you're a good frontman but you don't know the game. You call the straight ups, the crunches, the wows, and let us analyse them.

Absolutely this, I called him out on Twitter about this and he bit back. Would never say a bad word about SKY and especially rugby and then BOOM, article after article. I actually don't mind him on the comms for cricket...

 

[thierry henry]

I'd bet my left one he meant it. And that's the best looking one. The way he delivered it, he crowbarred into the discussion - there was zero reason to. It didn't sound playful, it sounded spiteful. I can almost guarantee you Smithy is no fan of the current way cricket is presented.

The Australian crowd wouldn't have known how to perceive it given they know nothing that happens outside their border, or even often inside. The general Australian cricket fan is an abhorrent beast.

And why isn't Smithy a good commentator?

What I meant is that even correctly assuming that Australian viewers know nothing, it’s probably fair to assume that they can tell that he’s an NZ commentator who’s not currently commentating in NZ. So to Aussies ignorant of the background, it just comes across as an NZ commentator saying ‘haha these NZ commentators suck because they aren’t me’. It works on that level without needing to know of or refer to the background.

But yeah that’s a pretty fine distinction and I don’t doubt that Smith is bitter, whether or not that’s what he was attempting to convey.

 

[thierry henry]

As for his commentary, I’ve just never really enjoyed it because I feel like he’s a poor analyst of the game, has a poor eye for detail and doesn’t tend to be very well informed or up to date.

These days he’s renowned more as a front man/lead commentator for the big moments rather than an analyst. I can’t provide a pseudo-objective assessment of whether or not he’s good at that because it’s pure personal preference. I find it surprising that he’s so popular in that role because to me he has no gravitas whatsoever. Evidently others perceive him as having it.

.....in fairness I do acknowledge that I tend to have issues with most commentators

 

[SteveNZ]

What I meant is that even correctly assuming that Australian viewers know nothing, it’s probably fair to assume that they can tell that he’s an NZ commentator who’s not currently commentating in NZ. So to Aussies ignorant of the background, it just comes across as an NZ commentator saying ‘haha these NZ commentators suck because they aren’t me’. It works on that level without needing to know of or refer to the background.

But yeah that’s a pretty fine distinction and I don’t doubt that Smith is bitter, whether or not that’s what he was attempting to convey.

Oh yeah they would've interpreted that...although I had to watch twice to hear it properly so it probably flew over heads.

My greatest bugbear about commentators is lack of knowledge, lack of research etc. I think it's incredibly unprofessional. Like the Aussie guys, they know Mitch Marsh is Moose but they know **** all else. I've never understood why they wouldn't pride themselves on finding out about oppositions, who the next crop is, what the A team is doing etc. But there seems to be an understanding they won't, and anyone who did wouldn't really be welcome

 

[thierry henry]

Yeah, and I don’t particularly like O’Keeffe but one thing you can say about him is at least he comes armed with a few statistical tidbits and maybe an anecdote or two about overseas players. I wouldn’t call it great analysis, but there’s an attempt to do some research at least.

 

[Flem274*]

O'Keefe watches a lot of cricket around the world and probably does keep an eye on the Shield livestreams.

So he's better placed than most to poke fun, and let's be real for every talented hotshot we see there are also plenty of comedy errors.

No domestic comp is exactly the pinnacle.

 

[Prince EWS]

O'Keefe watches a lot of cricket around the world and probably does keep an eye on the Shield livestreams.

So he's better placed than most to poke fun, and let's be real for every talented hotshot we see there are also plenty of comedy errors.

No domestic comp is exactly the pinnacle.

Skull watches Sydney first grade streams as well. Probably watches more cricket than anyone in the world. Literally just sits there all day watching cricket.

 

[Athlai]

I reckon my favourite of the TVNZ team is Elliott