ABC is so far and away above teleision coverage it is like comparing mountains with molehills. I only ever listen to the TV coverage when Bill Lawry is on. He is a great man, as anyone who saw him a couple of years ago present a baggy green to the latest player can surely attest.
From what I have heard from co-commentators when Bill is on, and the times leading to my banishment of ch 9 commentary, as well as watching in pubs and having no choice, my observations are:
Nicholas - professional presenter, likeable, knowledgeable, humble, a cut above the rest
Vaughn - Stifled by co-commentators and Nine's production. Excellent in assessments after day's play, articles and tweets. The former two flourished in the England tour by Australia. Would be excellent on radio.
Lloyd - A revelation to those who only watch our summer cricket. Has been a breath of fresh air for years now on our tours to England. His (deserved) popularity has seen him commercialised and battered. A prime example was in the ODI where he did an Elvis impersonation but was destroyed by Brayshaw on one side and Slater on the other. Steelers Wheel ought to use it as a film clip as a re-release of their hit.
NB Brayshaw went quite well in trying to stem the flood of stomach-churning, but was comprehensively outweighed by Slater. I thought Slater's performance singing Khe San at the AB Awards a few years ago was unbeatable, but I was proven wrong by his Buzz Lightyear that day.
Chappell - If you are at an RSL lucky enough to be talking to a veteran, you will respecfully and happily sit through the drone in order to pick up the gems. And be all the better for it. Listen to his whole dollar, and happily keep the 40 cents that makes it worthwhile.
Brayshaw - the less said the better. (Those should have been his instructions, by the way.)
Taylor - Too groomed to be effective on one hand, and too much a nerd when trying to be "one of the boys." If he were to just be himself, ie if you were having a few beers with him as a mate, would be peerless. Would be perfect on radio if told he was broadcasting only to the Surrey Hills pubs.
Slater - worst of all. His forced laugh is reminiscent of a pubescent teenager who knows he is out of his depth yet egotistically tries to get himself in with the big boys. Impossible that he knows how pathetic he is, otherwise he would no longer exist in public life. In my mind, the epitome and watershed moment in the catastrophic slide in the quality of channel 9 cricket commentary from B+ to Better off dead.
Healy - Terribly boring with his medical talk, his constant wicket-keeper lecturing a pertinent case in point (for all the Wade haters, I am sure that his coaching of Wade destroyed him psychologically - can you imagine being mentored by him?) Offers nothing in batsmenship expertise, bowling likewise. Ought to re-invent himself into being the person he is known and loved for. Straight-talking sledger. Forget all the technical stuff.
Warne - Would benefit from being a part of a 2 commentator system, the other beng a professional a-la Jim Maxwell, Richie Benaud. Totally wasted when with people he has no respect for. If complemented wisely, a potential gem.
