Re: Who's your favourite commentator?
Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 8:21 am
When i was kid and playing street cricket i used to listen to commentators seriously. But gradually at this point of time there are some changes to how i view non playing public and commentators or whoever not on field. It is not due to one incident over one match but generally over years of experience of watching cricket commentary, reading cricket articles, knowing how public watching you react.To me commentators are all same and like those article writers which one day write 10 reasons why you should drink tea and after few months contradicting it with 10 reasons why you shouldn't drink tea.
When a player hit a four through covers..."What a great shot. Moved towards the pitch of the ball. Hit it on the up and guided it well to the extra cover boundary with great timing. There is no better player than him on the off side." Other ball of same type same bowler same batsman get out..."Shouldn't be playing that at all. It was pitched out side the line of off stump and he tried to reach it, also bit high to play hence failing to have any control by not playing it under the eyes / head. " Even Richie Benaud, Sunny, Ravi, Cozier.. any commentator does this and their commentary depend on whether the batsman get out or hit four or six. Their is little understanding what the batsmen or bowlers or fielders are thinking about when they have reaction time ranging from 1 to 10 seconds. To me these commentators are also like the non playing cricket public who watch our 20/30/40/50 overs cricket matches and have some comments to make standing comfortably under the trees for most of those 20-50 overs and having so much blah blah to do about how we should play the game under 35+ degrees heat and strong opponents who also have a good day at times. Cricket writers are also of similar type. They will just say anything to earn an income. Commentators too do the same. Public watching cricket matches do the same. The only thing that needs to be genuinely taken from them are statistics they provide either while commentating or in cricketing articles. There is no bias to it and there is everything true about it. It is wise to listen to only 21 other cricketers who are playing the match rather than being interested to know what the public and commentators and writers have to talk about it. The best comments and more consistent analysis will come from those on field guys who are in middle of action. Other people serve little purpose to enrich your cricketing aspirations. For one useful tip one will have to listen commentary of about 10 matches or read as many as 20 articles. But you discuss with coach for 5 minutes only and you will get much more relevant , practical and useful knowledge than listening to 20 matches, reading 20 articles. The hit ratio is much better and more quality.
Apart from this, just to point out that Bumble had so much to crib about IPL last year or two, but now he got IPL commentary contract and commentated since last round of matches this year. "IPL is such a great tournament, blah blah blah." What a way a good contract forces you to act rather than what you actually want to say.
I dont know whether the commentators in past era was good or not but the commentary in what i have listened is not good. The only things that i now take seriously from what they do is show the records or stats.
When a player hit a four through covers..."What a great shot. Moved towards the pitch of the ball. Hit it on the up and guided it well to the extra cover boundary with great timing. There is no better player than him on the off side." Other ball of same type same bowler same batsman get out..."Shouldn't be playing that at all. It was pitched out side the line of off stump and he tried to reach it, also bit high to play hence failing to have any control by not playing it under the eyes / head. " Even Richie Benaud, Sunny, Ravi, Cozier.. any commentator does this and their commentary depend on whether the batsman get out or hit four or six. Their is little understanding what the batsmen or bowlers or fielders are thinking about when they have reaction time ranging from 1 to 10 seconds. To me these commentators are also like the non playing cricket public who watch our 20/30/40/50 overs cricket matches and have some comments to make standing comfortably under the trees for most of those 20-50 overs and having so much blah blah to do about how we should play the game under 35+ degrees heat and strong opponents who also have a good day at times. Cricket writers are also of similar type. They will just say anything to earn an income. Commentators too do the same. Public watching cricket matches do the same. The only thing that needs to be genuinely taken from them are statistics they provide either while commentating or in cricketing articles. There is no bias to it and there is everything true about it. It is wise to listen to only 21 other cricketers who are playing the match rather than being interested to know what the public and commentators and writers have to talk about it. The best comments and more consistent analysis will come from those on field guys who are in middle of action. Other people serve little purpose to enrich your cricketing aspirations. For one useful tip one will have to listen commentary of about 10 matches or read as many as 20 articles. But you discuss with coach for 5 minutes only and you will get much more relevant , practical and useful knowledge than listening to 20 matches, reading 20 articles. The hit ratio is much better and more quality.
Apart from this, just to point out that Bumble had so much to crib about IPL last year or two, but now he got IPL commentary contract and commentated since last round of matches this year. "IPL is such a great tournament, blah blah blah." What a way a good contract forces you to act rather than what you actually want to say.
I dont know whether the commentators in past era was good or not but the commentary in what i have listened is not good. The only things that i now take seriously from what they do is show the records or stats.