Six men in a commentary team...
1. Richie Benaud
The easiest of picks. He is the Bradman of broadcasting and an absolute encyclopedia.
2. Michael Holding
I like his little tidbits of information and his cool voice. I think it's the fact that the West Indies are such a part of cricket history that makes it essential to have one in the commentary team. He's the Gary Sobers of commentating in that he's a clear and easy number 2.
3. Mark Nicholas
What do you think of Mark Nicholas? He seems to annoy a lot of people and one said he's "laminated in his own self-regard." Always sounding poetic and noble etc. He honestly doesn't bug me... but now that C4 lost the cricket rights, I doubt we'll see him much these days. He's now a member of the 9 network team I think on a full time basis. I enjoyed him on C4 when he was commentating with Benaud... they complement each other. Without Benaud I don't think he's as great. I smile remembering the time he said to Mark Taylor "You like the AC/DC?". My parents couldn't sound so dorkish if they tried.
4. Geoff Boycott
You need an insane irrational biast character in the commentary box. Australia has Bill Lawry and England Boycott. I could've picked either. Boycott is so silly it defies description. In the Ashes when Gilchrist kept on saying "'bowled Shane' Boycott went on a rant that some may remember saying stuff like "when is it a bad delivery when England are blocking him well etc." Him mocking Michael Slater's reaction to Shane Warne bowling Andrew Strauss with neato as well. Which leads me to...
5. Michael Slater
I like the bloke and he and Boycott made a neat little team in the Ashes. He's a biast Australian, but also has constructive things to say. Anybody who can make New Zealand commentators sound tollerable deserves to be on the list. New Zealanders should not commentate!
6. Tony Greig
For many, Tony Greig is what's most annoying about Australia's channel 9 team. But I like him, he's an antogonist. I love Greggy, the way he'd annoy guys like Lillee and Thompson on the field with his antics. He annoys Bill Lawry and provokes him and it makes for good TV. Always the first the say something provoking aboiut the Australians like "who's choking now!"
Adding Greggy makes me wanna put Bill Lawry in. Lawry is such a nut, I remember when Murali nearly got an edge of Gilchrist and Lawry said "well bowled and well played" before Ian Healey was like "no not well played Billy, surely, not well played!" He's the type of guy to say "nice leave" to his favorite Aussie players when they're nearly bowled.
Thought about Botham since he's another biased provoking comentator. He's not as good as Greggy in annoying people, but he is a powerful personallity and mainstream character.
1. Richie Benaud
The easiest of picks. He is the Bradman of broadcasting and an absolute encyclopedia.
2. Michael Holding
I like his little tidbits of information and his cool voice. I think it's the fact that the West Indies are such a part of cricket history that makes it essential to have one in the commentary team. He's the Gary Sobers of commentating in that he's a clear and easy number 2.
3. Mark Nicholas
What do you think of Mark Nicholas? He seems to annoy a lot of people and one said he's "laminated in his own self-regard." Always sounding poetic and noble etc. He honestly doesn't bug me... but now that C4 lost the cricket rights, I doubt we'll see him much these days. He's now a member of the 9 network team I think on a full time basis. I enjoyed him on C4 when he was commentating with Benaud... they complement each other. Without Benaud I don't think he's as great. I smile remembering the time he said to Mark Taylor "You like the AC/DC?". My parents couldn't sound so dorkish if they tried.
4. Geoff Boycott
You need an insane irrational biast character in the commentary box. Australia has Bill Lawry and England Boycott. I could've picked either. Boycott is so silly it defies description. In the Ashes when Gilchrist kept on saying "'bowled Shane' Boycott went on a rant that some may remember saying stuff like "when is it a bad delivery when England are blocking him well etc." Him mocking Michael Slater's reaction to Shane Warne bowling Andrew Strauss with neato as well. Which leads me to...
5. Michael Slater
I like the bloke and he and Boycott made a neat little team in the Ashes. He's a biast Australian, but also has constructive things to say. Anybody who can make New Zealand commentators sound tollerable deserves to be on the list. New Zealanders should not commentate!
6. Tony Greig
For many, Tony Greig is what's most annoying about Australia's channel 9 team. But I like him, he's an antogonist. I love Greggy, the way he'd annoy guys like Lillee and Thompson on the field with his antics. He annoys Bill Lawry and provokes him and it makes for good TV. Always the first the say something provoking aboiut the Australians like "who's choking now!"
Adding Greggy makes me wanna put Bill Lawry in. Lawry is such a nut, I remember when Murali nearly got an edge of Gilchrist and Lawry said "well bowled and well played" before Ian Healey was like "no not well played Billy, surely, not well played!" He's the type of guy to say "nice leave" to his favorite Aussie players when they're nearly bowled.
Thought about Botham since he's another biased provoking comentator. He's not as good as Greggy in annoying people, but he is a powerful personallity and mainstream character.
