The Ashes: Brisbane.

[Durhamfootman]

I confess to being pleasantly surprised when I put the telly on this morning. 196-4 represents a pretty solid start for England, with the newbies coping better than I expected. I've had a look through this thread and it seems that the pitch is a bit of a road (which surprised me, tbh), so doubtless that will have eased them into the series gently.... perhaps more gently than was wise.

I had half expected that England would lose one of Malan or Moeen late in the day, and then lose a nightwatchman too, handing the initiative back to Australia, but fortunately things seem to have ended early before England had a chance to commit sepukku.

Odd that it was the 2 most experienced players who got out cheaply.... perhaps they just have the most scars

[greyblazer]

The Gabba track was offering enough turn. Moeen Ali would be watching.

https://twitter.com/CricProf/status/933545594701959168

[meninblue]

Credit to the new comers in the England lineup. Nice contribution of 83 from James. Mark to got a 50. Dawid too has got a start. The pros have flopped though in this innings. If England score 350 without the contributions of Cook and Joe, then it will be a nice morale booster in the first test of series.

[sussexpob]

Alison Mitchell doesnt seem to know fielding place names, and at one point described a ball whizzing through the covers as "going through the gap where no Australian fielders are standing", after seeming to stutter looking for the technical name.

Alison Mitchell is an experienced commentator who has worked on TMS for several years. She knows cricket, plays a little herself and certainly knows the fielding positions. It isn't necessary to demonstrate your knowledge by continually using the right terms. There was a gap and Alison called it.

As a non ex-professional commentator, she has an onus to bring something else to the pot in term of commentary ability. She cant rely on anecdotes of playing experiences, so has to justify being there with sound technical knowledge or compelling listening style. Yet, stuttering when trying to think of a technical word, then describing it in very inefficient language was a large example of a lack of both of these qualities. Her commentary style was very vague, mechanical, dull and uninteresting, and along with Boycott, mostly treated us to half an hour of moronic generalisms.

Im struggling to see how her presence is justified as a debut lead commentator for an Ashes series, where there are four former national captains on the panel. As I said, it seems a token gesture.

[Durhamfootman]

perhaps if she spent more time talking about cake?

[Durhamfootman]

or seagulls

[Athertonian]

TBH Athers is doing Video reviews on Sky Sports news and on the site and Key will be on Sky sports news everyday talking about the days play.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/1 ... ew-day-one
Suspect nasser will be doing some stuff for mail and sky sports news/site as well.

Thanks for that. Good to know. Bumble had tweeted that he would be listening to the radio, and at the end of last season Gower was regretful at not going to Australia for the first time in decades. I kind of assumed there would be no Sky presence. It was noticeable that there were virtually no mentions of the forthcoming Ashes on Sky Sports, whereas normally there would be endless trailers.

Will be keeping up with Athers’ reviews.

[Durhamfootman]

and called more people "old thing"

then she might become a national treasure in 2 or 3 years, and secure her career for the next 40

[Athertonian]

Alison Mitchell doesnt seem to know fielding place names, and at one point described a ball whizzing through the covers as "going through the gap where no Australian fielders are standing", after seeming to stutter looking for the technical name.

Alison Mitchell is an experienced commentator who has worked on TMS for several years. She knows cricket, plays a little herself and certainly knows the fielding positions. It isn't necessary to demonstrate your knowledge by continually using the right terms. There was a gap and Alison called it.

As a non ex-professional commentator, she has an onus to bring something else to the pot in term of commentary ability. She cant rely on anecdotes of playing experiences, so has to justify being there with sound technical knowledge or compelling listening style. Yet, stuttering when trying to think of a technical word, then describing it in very inefficient language was a large example of a lack of both of these qualities. Her commentary style was very vague, mechanical, dull and uninteresting, and along with Boycott, mostly treated us to half an hour of moronic generalisms.

Im struggling to see how her presence is justified as a debut lead commentator for an Ashes series, where there are four former national captains on the panel. As I said, it seems a token gesture.

TV commentary is very different from radio commentary, and it’s true she’s inexperienced in this format. The specs for TMS are fairly clear-cut: the commentator (Alison’s role) describes the action on the field as it happens. It is of course not remotely the case that the commentator doesn’t need to understand cricket, as suggested by another poster. The summariser amplifies and adds points of interest. Sadly, these parameters have been eroded in recent years with summarisers, particularly Boycott, wanting to talk over the commentators and unwilling to shut up when the commentator is trying to give us the score. On TV it’s much more fluid. The two commentators on Sky don’t appear to have different roles, but presumably know the mantra “let the pictures tell the story”. On BT Sport It’s a challenge for all the usual radio pundits - Boycott, Swann, MPV - not just Mitchell.

[andy]

Anyone know the forecast for 2nd day? Don't wanna get up at midnight to watch if gonna be chucking down with rain lol..

[meninblue]

Anyone know the forecast for 2nd day? Don't wanna get up at midnight to watch if gonna be chucking down with rain lol..

No rain at all. 90 overs possible. Better to wake up at midnight to catch 90 overs of action.

[sussexpob]

Anyone know the forecast for 2nd day? Don't wanna get up at midnight to watch if gonna be chucking down with rain lol..

Supposed to be the only dry day throughout tomorrow. Rain is possible for all three days after, but not tomorrow.

[andy]

awesome cheers guys will have a nap this evening and so should be fresh for start of play

[meninblue]

awesome cheers guys will have a nap this evening and so should be fresh for start of play

No rain on 3rd day and 4th day as well.

[andy]

Have to be up at 5am for work on those days though so i need sleep them days