The Battle of the Commentators

[Pratters]

Hussain. The best commentator I have heard.

 

[Jamee999]

Nasser.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nice battle thread, this. Sorry I missed it up to this point.

Hussein here. One of the better commentators going around, and he and Slater are the best of the "new" guys right now.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Smith's a gimp.

Nass.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Oh dear oh dear. Smitty gets a thumping. He was lucky to not finish as the first guy with negative votes. That's the 2 player battles over. Now for the first round threesomes.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Battle Ten

This one could get nasty. Three big names in commentary come up against each other in Round One!

Henry Blofeld vs Mike Atherton vs Michael Holding

Henry Blofeld

Playing Career: 16 first class matches for Cambridge University
Commentating Pedigree: Drifted into sports journalism, his first print assignment on the 1963/64 tour to India. He took up residence in the TMS Radio Commentary box in 1972 has has been there ever since; except for a three year period in the early 90s commentating for BSkyB
Other: * Prone to amusing errors (e.g. calling Monty Panesar, "Monty Python")
* Appeared in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy radio show
* A regular on the after dinner circuit

Mike Atherton

Playing Career: Over a hundred tests for England, many as captain. His career was curtailed by a regular back injury which reduced both his effectiveness and overall longevity in the game.
Commentating Pedigree: Initially a newspaper columnist on retirement, firstly for the Sunday Telegraph, he soon took up a position with Channel 4 in the UK. Since the loss of TV rights, he has moved to Sky Sports, but has commentated for BBC Radio and TalkSport on overseas tours.
Other: * Author of a book on gambling
* The player with the lowest batting average of any player to exceed 6,000 test runs.

Michael Holding

Playing Career: A legendary fiery fast bowler for the West Indies, taking nearly 250 wickets over the course of 60 test matches.
Commentating Pedigree: In the words of Mike Selvey, "Now in the commentary box, he is gentle but fearless, a rational critic who beguiles with his deep fruity measured Jamaican twang"
Other: * Over a quarter of his test match batting runs were scored via sixes
* On the board in charge of the Stanford 20:20 competition

 

[Mister Wright]

For: Michael Holding

 

[archie mac]

For Blowers

At least he will be in front for a little while

 

[grecian]

Tempted to go anti the doddery, derivative buffoon, but I like Holding, so my vote goes for him.

 

[cameeel]

For: Holding

 

[Goughy]

For: Holding

 

[Turbinator]

For Atherton.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I like Athers & Holding a lot; both have different strengths. Athers is probably the sharper mind, but I could listen to Mikey all day long. & I don't actually mind Blowers as much as some seem to on here, yeah he's a reactionary old ****, but there is something peculiarly English about his brand of rumflummery.

I think, if only for the majesty of the rich honeyed molasses of his voice, I'm voting for Holding.

 

[BhupinderSingh]

Michael Holding.

 

[headhunter]

For: Holding one of my favourite commentators.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Holding.

 

[The_Bunny]

Tough battle, Would like to see both Athers and Holding go through, but Holding it has to be.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Atherton and Holding are both quite good, but I'll go for Holding.

 

[nightprowler10]

For: Holding quite easily for me.

 

[Days of Grace]

For: Holding I just love that accent, it is the essence of cool of me.

Even though I do like Blowers, very amusing to listen to.

I think Hussain and Atherton do the same type of job in a commentary team.