Nine shakes up its cricket team
Ben Horne Exclusive, The Daily Telegraph
TEST big guns Brett Lee and Mike Hussey have parted company with Channel Nine on the eve of the summer.
The former Australian teammates have formed a key component of the commentary team over recent years, but won’t feature in a new-look line-up that’s headed up by former Test captain Michael Clarke.
It’s understood Nine are also in discussions with retired greats Kevin Pietersen and Waqar Younis to potentially make specialist commentary appearances throughout two bumper Test series against South Africa and Pakistan.
South African-born Pietersen has been revealed as a sharp analyst during his cameos on Channel Ten’s Big Bash coverage, while Younis has until recently served as the coach of the world No.2 Pakistanis.
Former dynamite fast bowler Lee and champion run-scorer Hussey were part of the new generation of callers to come through at Nine – two experts who had close ties with the current team.
Neither will be seen in lounge rooms this summer, although Nine claim they weren’t pushed.
“As part of Nine’s stronger and deeper relationship with Cricket Australia, Wide World of Sports is providing Michael Hussey to host and report for Cricket Australia’s digital platforms this summer,” said Nine’s director of sport, Tom Malone.
“Mike will provide the link between Nine’s commentary team and the Cricket Australia digital content.
“Brett Lee’s new business interests and young family are taking up increasing amounts of Brett’s time and there isn’t the space to squeeze in his commentary commitments as well.
“Both Brett and Mike are well respected and much liked members of the Nine family.
“They’ve made great contributions to our broadcasts and we hope to work closely with them again in the future.”
Despite their consistently strong ratings, Channel Nine’s famous commentary team has been put under the microscope in recent summers, particularly after the big splash made by Ten’s acclaimed coverage of the Big Bash League.
There are few more respected voices in Australian cricket than Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor, while Shane Warne remains one of the most sought-after cricket commentators around the world.
Clarke has been a standout in the times he has appeared in the box over recent seasons, with his sharp tactical cricket brain coming across articulately on air.
But there’s been talk for some time that a fresh makeover was on the horizon.
There’s been some speculation Nine could introduce a strong female presence during their summer cricket coverage, much like the role Yvonne Sampson plays in Nine’s NRL package.
Signing Pietersen and Younis would be another huge step in appealing to the masses.
One of the signature aspects of Nine’s coverage in years past that has been missing in more recent times is the presence of respected overseas voices.
Pietersen and Younis could break up the volley of Australian voices with a balanced flavour.
Former England star Pietersen is one of the most outspoken and at times controversial figures cricket has ever seen.
There’s been some speculation Nine could introduce a strong female presence during their summer cricket coverage, much like the role Yvonne Sampson plays in Nine’s NRL package.
Signing Pietersen and Younis would be another huge step in appealing to the masses.
One of the signature aspects of Nine’s coverage in years past that has been missing in more recent times is the presence of respected overseas voices.
Pietersen and Younis could break up the volley of Australian voices with a balanced flavour.
Former England star Pietersen is one of the most outspoken and at times controversial figures cricket has ever seen.
There’s been some speculation Nine could introduce a strong female presence during their summer cricket coverage, much like the role Yvonne Sampson plays in Nine’s NRL package.
Signing Pietersen and Younis would be another huge step in appealing to the masses.
One of the signature aspects of Nine’s coverage in years past that has been missing in more recent times is the presence of respected overseas voices.
Pietersen and Younis could break up the volley of Australian voices with a balanced flavour.
Former England star Pietersen is one of the most outspoken and at times controversial figures cricket has ever seen.
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