Least favourite TV Commentator

[Timbo]

Why are they in England.

Who told them we wanted them to go to England?

Why do I now have to listen to Ian Healy even though it's winter?

Why. Why. WHY!?!?!?!

 

[GongPanther]

Why are they in England.

Who told them we wanted them to go to England?

Why do I now have to listen to Ian Healy even though it's winter?

Why. Why. WHY!?!?!?!

Did you watch the recent England V N.Z. test series.

The commentary on Sky via Foxsports,compared to the last time we watched a test series on Channel Nine,leaves nine for dead.

I'm not referring to the expertise,but the amount of blabber between every ball.

Then we were watching the last Australian test series in Oz V S.A.,each commentator must have been on a words per minute wage whilst at the same time,giving the viewing audience an impression that these commentators loved the sound of their own voices.

In comparison,the English broadcast has those moments of silence between balls that is actually therapeutic.

 

[Mr Bean]

Why are they in England.

Who told them we wanted them to go to England?

Why do I now have to listen to Ian Healy even though it's winter?

Why. Why. WHY!?!?!?!

Because channel nein got greedy. For the first time in a long time Australia head over to Eng as raging hot favourites. So Nein decided to cash in on a sure thing with their favourite pain in the arses commentators.

 

[Timbo]

I have noticed that the commentary is significantly better than at home over the summer.

I think it could be that it's because there are only two commentators in the box instead of three like we get at home. When there are three in the box, they're all competing to talk. This seems far more relaxed. Even Ian Healy doesn't sound like such a dribbler.

The fact that Vaughan and Lloyd know the English team so well really helps. The fact the Nein commentators have no idea about visiting teams is one of the things I hate the most.

And we don't have to put up with Warney crapping on about pizza and Brayshaw talking about whatever the f**k he's droning on about. That helps.

 

[undertaker]

As I said in the game day thread, this is the first time since 1997 Ashes tour that Ch9 have sent their commentary team over to the UK. On that occasion, they used their own commentators and on-screen graphics with the BBC tv coverage/cameras.

David Lloyd and Michael Vaughn are great additions and were fantastic to have out here during the 2013/14 Ashes. Their additions neutralised having Brayshaw and Slats creaming their pants in the commentary box. However, the commentators Ch9 used for the 1997 series crap all over Nickelarse/Tubby/Heals:

Richie Benaud, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell (back when he wasn't bitching and moaning ad nauseum), Geoff Boycott, Bill Lawry (for the tests 1-3) and Carl Rackemann (for tests 4-6)

Ok, Rackemann had a voice that would cure insomnia (he also commentated along with Dennis Cometti and Terry Jenner during the 1997 tour of South Africa. How is that for a trio of dull/melancholic commentary voices?:lol, but oh boy did we take the Benaud/Greig/Chappell/Lawry quartet for granted for all those years. And yes, during the '97 series it was good to have Sir Geoffrey having subtle digs at Greig and partnered alongside Chappelli (whom it was no secret Geoff, along with Botham and Steve Waugh, was one of the three cricketers Chappelli had a long-running feud with)

 

[undertaker]

I have noticed that the commentary is significantly better than at home over the summer.

I think it could be that it's because there are only two commentators in the box instead of three like we get at home. When there are three in the box, they're all competing to talk. This seems far more relaxed. Even Ian Healy doesn't sound like such a dribbler.

The fact that Vaughan and Lloyd know the English team so well really helps. The fact the Nein commentators have no idea about visiting teams is one of the things I hate the most.

And we don't have to put up with Warney crapping on about pizza and Brayshaw talking about whatever the f**k he's droning on about. That helps.

Although it's the same Ch9 commentators, I agree that 2 commentators per 30 min stint craps all over the 3 per 30 min stint that has been in place on Ch9 since the 2006/07 Ashes. Far more relaxed as you said, and more in-depth cricket analysis rather than everyone trying to quickly get their spiel in and see who can say the most words during those 30 mins. Ian Healy sounds just like he did during 1999/00-2005/06 before the three commentator per stint system, as well as the additions of cheerleaders such as Slats and Warney.

And yes, no rubbish non-cricketing rants such as pizza or how the MCG is the sporting capital of the world during the Boxing Day Test etc. Thank God Brayshaw is still exiled in Victoriania covering the AFL.

However, I don't know if this is my imagination or not, but it was distracting during the Ryan Harris interview at lunch break yesterday seeing Nickelarse fidgeting all the time on the camera, like he had ADHD or something. He couldn't keep still, and kept moving and swerving on the seat whilst Harris was talking (even looking away from Harris towards the crowd after asking the question at times, like he was disinterested), and looked like he was pretty much waiting for Harris to finish after 10-20 seconds before he could ask his next question. Did anyone else notice this?

 

[8Ball]

No Warne and Brayshaw has made a huge difference so far.

 

[Mr Bean]

Hasn't taken long for that windbag Chappell to start again.
He has spent the past 10 years obsessing over Ian Bell batting at number 3 and now he wants Root there.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/897217.html

The guys in tremendous form leave him where it works.

 

[JW]

No Warne and Brayshaw has made a huge difference so far.

How will we know who has the biggest levers?

 

[8Ball]

How will we know who has the biggest levers?

I have a hard time working out who is a big strong man without him to be honest

 

[steggz]

Hasn't taken long for that windbag Chappell to start again.
He has spent the past 10 years obsessing over Ian Bell batting at number 3 and now he wants Root there.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/897217.html

The guys in tremendous form leave him where it works.

I get his argument. Root has batted all over the shop and would be a good 3. Chappelli's argument is always that your best bat should be 3, he doesn't believe in people playing roles in an order. Ballance has seemed to get bogged down.

 

[Timbo]

Chappeli will argue till the day that he dies that the best batsman in any given team should bat at three. Circumstance doesn't matter to him one bit.

It's his philosophy, and if nothing else, he's consistent.

 

[Twizzle]

He is obsessed with batting positions and likes to rave about how he thinks some one should move from 4 to 3 or what ever and at the end of the day it means very little.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

As I said in the game day thread, this is the first time since 1997 Ashes tour that Ch9 have sent their commentary team over to the UK. On that occasion, they used their own commentators and on-screen graphics with the BBC tv coverage/cameras.

David Lloyd and Michael Vaughn are great additions and were fantastic to have out here during the 2013/14 Ashes. Their additions neutralised having Brayshaw and Slats creaming their pants in the commentary box. However, the commentators Ch9 used for the 1997 series crap all over Nickelarse/Tubby/Heals:

Richie Benaud, Tony Greig, Ian Chappell (back when he wasn't bitching and moaning ad nauseum), Geoff Boycott, Bill Lawry (for the tests 1-3) and Carl Rackemann (for tests 4-6)

Ok, Rackemann had a voice that would cure insomnia (he also commentated along with Dennis Cometti and Terry Jenner during the 1997 tour of South Africa. How is that for a trio of dull/melancholic commentary voices?:lol, but oh boy did we take the Benaud/Greig/Chappell/Lawry quartet for granted for all those years. And yes, during the '97 series it was good to have Sir Geoffrey having subtle digs at Greig and partnered alongside Chappelli (whom it was no secret Geoff, along with Botham and Steve Waugh, was one of the three cricketers Chappelli had a long-running feud with)

Who didn't Chappelli have a disagreement with? But interesting you mentioned Steve Waugh, when did that occur?

Chappelli was interviewed one day and reckoned Geoff Boycott might've been a great batsmen but was selfish and used to put him asleep.

Yeah you did mention the 1997 Ashes using the Ch 9 commentary, I think I remember Slater and Langer were guest commentators as they were on that tour but didn't play a test. But do you remember at some stage during the series it was shown on the ABC TV live? This may have been because Ch 9 had the rights to Wimbledon and I think the first test wasn't shown until after the lunch session, they did a live cross to Bill Lawry and Tony Greig on the footy show during the lunch break. Fortunately it was also shown on Optus back then but used the BBC commentators which also had Boycs, Benaud, Gower and Chappelli.

There's a funny incident with Greig and Boycott during the series. Boycott was explaining that an English batsman (Cant remember who it was) wasn't playing enough shots on the leg side, and indicated on the spider graph but when Greigy thought there marks on the leg side, Boycs came back with "That's cause he's a left hander you twat" :lol:

 

[Mr Bean]

I get his argument. Root has batted all over the shop and would be a good 3. Chappelli's argument is always that your best bat should be 3, he doesn't believe in people playing roles in an order. Ballance has seemed to get bogged down.

Its too soon for Root to go back up the order. He tried that at the start of his career and was exposed badly against the new ball with the quicks at their freshest. He has come back better down the order.
He will have the burden of captaincy soon better to ease him into the job down the order. In my opinion.

 

[undertaker]

Yeah you did mention the 1997 Ashes using the Ch 9 commentary, I think I remember Slater and Langer were guest commentators as they were on that tour but didn't play a test. But do you remember at some stage during the series it was shown on the ABC TV live? This may have been because Ch 9 had the rights to Wimbledon and I think the first test wasn't shown until after the lunch session, they did a live cross to Bill Lawry and Tony Greig on the footy show during the lunch break. Fortunately it was also shown on Optus back then but used the BBC commentators which also had Boycs, Benaud, Gower and Chappelli.

IIRC, I believe it was the 3rd test at Old Trafford that the ABC televised in Australia (using Ch9's commentary). That was the test Steve Waugh scored centuries in both innings on a difficult, low-scoring, seaming pitch (Dean Headley got 8 wickets, Warney got 9). You don't see too many of those sort of pitches these days. Since then, the only other time ABC broadcasted live test cricket were the Sundays during the 2003 and 2004 top-end series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as Ch9 had AFL and NRL during 1-6pm. On that occasion, ABC did use their own tv commentary and cameras for the day, as I remember Jim Maxwell hosting the broadcast.

Regarding Ch9's coverage of that 1997 tour, Ch9 didn't televise the first hour of the three ODIs, and didn't televise the first session of the tests (i.e. their coverage started at 10:30pm, 10mins before the beginning of second session). So, only the first session could be seen on Optus (which used BBC's commentary and graphics) and since PayTV was relatively new in Australia and only a smal % had it back then compared to now, most ppl didn't see the first session.

Although Ch7 showed the ODIs in full in 2001 (only those involving Australia), they did the same thing as Ch9 with the Ashes tests: coverage started at 10:30pm meaning Optus was the only avenue you could see the first session. That was the last test series Optus/C7/Sports Australia covered before they became defunct. I remember it was very frustrating having to wait until 10:30pm to watch it as my family got Foxtel that year (during the tour of India) and Foxtel had the rights to all international test series involving Australia bar the Ashes

 

[TheParraboy]

IIRC, I believe it was the 3rd test at Old Trafford that the ABC televised in Australia (using Ch9's commentary). That was the test Steve Waugh scored centuries in both innings on a difficult, low-scoring, seaming pitch (Dean Headley got 8 wickets, Warney got 9). You don't see too many of those sort of pitches these days. Since then, the only other time ABC broadcasted live test cricket were the Sundays during the 2003 and 2004 top-end series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as Ch9 had AFL and NRL during 1-6pm. On that occasion, ABC did use their own tv commentary and cameras for the day, as I remember Jim Maxwell hosting the broadcast.

ahh yes great memory that one

Tugger playing busted.

Tubby deciding to bat on a green top with the series 0-1

 

[undertaker]

ahh yes great memory that one

Tugger playing busted.

Tubby deciding to bat on a green top with the series 0-1

Just for you Parraboy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN53kupYipc (108 in the 1st innings)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdKQL1E-6jc (116 in the 2nd innings)

Tugga was only one of two Aussie batsmen in the '90s to score centuries in both innings of a test match (Dean Jones in 1990 being the other).

And yeah, it was a brave decision to bat first on that Old Trafford pitch. Headley and Gough were in very good form, and such a shame that both of their careers were hampered by chronic injury. For those on this forum who are under 25, Headley + Gough in the '90s > Anderson + Broad. Aussies were unlucky not to win the previous test at Lord's after McGrath skittled the Poms in the 1st innings for 77 before incessant rain pretty much rendered a draw to be a foregone conclusion. Bottom line, when I look at highlights from that series, pitches back then offered a hell of a lot more for the bowlers and batsmen had to earn their runs, which is what made Tugga's centuries in that test all the more significant. No way would the ECB offer green-tops for this current Ashes, and the run the risk of damage that Johnson/Starc/Hazlewood could do, yet they dished them out against India last year knowing they would be minced meat on toast, as seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c0TBnTRQkY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsXFul4amQ4

A shame CA bowed to the BCCI and dished up flat-tracks last summer, as well as not playing in Perth.

 

[undertaker]

There's a funny incident with Greig and Boycott during the series. Boycott was explaining that an English batsman (Cant remember who it was) wasn't playing enough shots on the leg side, and indicated on the spider graph but when Greigy thought there marks on the leg side, Boycs came back with "That's cause he's a left hander you twat" :lol:

Here's the moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njWPg3jgBe4

:lol:

Who didn't Chappelli have a disagreement with? But interesting you mentioned Steve Waugh, when did that occur?

http://www.cricketcountry.com/artic...ls-with-greig-waugh-across-a-generation-12381

Chappelli was interviewed one day and reckoned Geoff Boycott might've been a great batsmen but was selfish and used to put him asleep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG5Bk93RMks

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Those twin centuries by Steve Waugh were crucial in that series. We wouldve won in Lords if it wasnt for the rain, and going into the 3rd test we're still 1-0 behind under a bit of pressure. The ball was swinging quite a bit, Headley took 2 early wickets. Richie Benaud rated as one of finest innings he's ever seen, the first one that is. Interesting the 2nd one, he came in at the similar circumstance. 3 down for not many but that sums up the player Steve Waugh was, likes the pressure and always got us out of trouble. Also Shane Warne score a nice 50 adding to his 6 wickets in the first innings. Probably unlucky not to get man of the match