The "Channel 9 Commentary Is Hurting Brain" Thread

[GotSpin]

I actually had that daunting feeling sitting on the couch watching the cricket tonight - How the **** am I gonna put up with these guys all summer?

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Got_Spin

I actually had that daunting feeling sitting on the couch watching the cricket tonight - How the **** am I gonna put up with these guys all summer?

Sofa!

[Matt79]

Yeah, will have to investigate this sofa thing, because the 9 guys were terrible tonight. They seem to have been getting worse every year for a while now. So overdue for a cleanout. Fire the current lot as a job lot, apart from Richie and Chappelli who should be kept as the "special comments" guys who don't do the ball-by-ball, but chime in with an observation. People mentioned Bruce Macaveney and bagged him in this thread, but he'd be a massive improvement, even if he doesn't have a cricket background, he at least is professional and meticulous in his preparation - he has his commentating foibles, but he is always across all the details of the people he's commentating on.

EDIT: Taylor might be tolerable as a special comments guy as well.

[Matt79]

Apart from anything else, 9 needs to get over this "you have to be have been a good Australian player to get a guernsey in the commentary team" fixation - Mark Nicholas aside. ****, throw some money at Gideon Haigh - again, not to do ball-by-ball, but to do some stories and interviews for the coverage.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Matt79

Apart from anything else, 9 needs to get over this "you have to be have been a good Australian player to get a guernsey in the commentary team" fixation - Mark Nicholas aside. ****, throw some money at Gideon Haigh - again, not to do ball-by-ball, but to do some stories and interviews for the coverage.

Gideon Haigh makes guest appearances on the Sofa ftr. Exactly value too.

[GotSpin]

Originally Posted by Matt79

Apart from anything else, 9 needs to get over this "you have to be have been a good Australian player to get a guernsey in the commentary team" fixation - Mark Nicholas aside. ****, throw some money at Gideon Haigh - again, not to do ball-by-ball, but to do some stories and interviews for the coverage.

The main issue with this, aside from the obvious problems, is that they're all good mates (in most cases) with the guys out their playing. Get a journalist or someone in there who is ready to say the harsh truths rather than glossing it over with icecream and cherrys on top

[Matt79]

And the obvious problems are: they're not good commentators.

[Jono]

Tbf, Nasser and Atherton have had no problems laying into England when necessary.

[GotSpin]

Originally Posted by Matt79

And the obvious problems are: they're not good commentators.

Well yeah clearly. But there's so much wrong with sugar coating Hussey's current situation as under a little bit of pressure that's been relieved by a very scratchy innings.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by Jono

Tbf, Nasser and Atherton have had no problems laying into England when necessary.

Bob Willis is better than both at that. His Hamilton 2008 rant is one of my favourites.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Jono

Tbf, Nasser and Atherton have had no problems laying into England when necessary.

Yeah but Nasser is a ****, and Atherton is just too awesome a commentator to not do so.

Regarding Atherton though, I don't think I recall him ever coming out and saying he doesn't think a player is good enough. I'm sure he's thought that at times too, but he normally just ends up listing their strengths and what they need to work on. He's an excellent analyst and probably my favourite commentator, but he too is a bit too nice at times IMO.

[Jono]

Do you mean Nasser is a **** as in he's ruthless and doesn't care what his old mates think and says it like it is, or that he's not a good commentator?

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Jono

Do you mean Nasser is a **** as in he's ruthless and doesn't care what his old mates think and says it like it is, or that he's not a good commentator?

The first one. ****s generally make good commentators if they know the game well.

[Teja.]

Nasser and Atherton are both awesome analysts.

Dravid, Punter and most particularly Sanga should become commentators after they retire. Sanga's articles on his favourite cricketers are fantastic.

Ganguly should do ball-by-ball for Neo, IMO.

[Prince EWS]

Yeah I really hope Sangakkara becomes a commentator. Aakash Chopra's articles have always impressed me as well - I'm not sure what his spoken English is like but his written stuff is excellent so I get the feeling he could make a good commentator too.