By Spiro Zavos
July 10th 2009 @ 1:28am
Related coverage
The best way to watch The Ashes is on radio
Australia's Simon Kaitch, second from left, hits a ball from England's Graeme Swann during the second day of the first cricket test match between England and Australia in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, July 9, 2009. AP Photo/Tom Hevezi
To catch the atmosphere before the opening ball of the 2009 Ashes series, I turned to the Fox Sports coverage. The studio team of Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming were incisive and fluent.
Waugh made the point that he didn’t rate Nathan Hauritiz as a spinner, but as he was in the squad, he had to play.
We were then taken to Sophia Gardens where Brendan Julian and a relaxed (as opposed to grumpy) Allan Border told us that Ben Hilfenhaus and Hauritiz were in the 11.
I then switched to the SBS to find Stuart MacGill, somewhat tense, introducing his studio panel of Damien Martin and Greg Matthews, somewhat as if they were boxers going into the ring, which, metaphorically given the head-to-head presentation contest with Fox Sports, I suppose they were.
Matthews is always interesting.
He is informed, combative and opinionated, which is what you want from a presenter. But the format was too stilted for my liking in comparison with the smoothness of the Fox Sports presentation.
The SBS coverage, too, was a bit off the pace with the latest news.
MacGill said he’d heard that Andrew McDonald was getting a start. Rodney Hogg, SBS’s man at the ground, did not point out that Hilfenhaus and Hauritz were marking out their runs, which suggested they were playing.
For a news and colour man at the cricket, Hogg was a great fast bowler.
At the drink interval, I tried SBS again to see what insights they were offering about the first hour of play.
A VB advertisement ran for most of the interval.
Over at Fox Sports, Fleming, who is a knowlegeable and engaging analyst, was going through what went right and what went wrong, just what a viewer needed to know.
Both channels took the British coverage of the pitch report from Nasser Hussain and then the ball-by-ball coverage.
Hussain is informative and generally says interesting things. But the other commentators are quite poor. Michael Atherton, who opened up with Michael Holding (who at least has an engaging voice), is as boring as his batting.
The level of analysis, with the exception of Hussain, is pitiful.
When Alistair Cook was dismissed, the commentators carried on about his lax shot. In fact, he had been suckered by a shrewd piece of bowling by Hilfenhaus.
Hifenhaus had been moving the ball into the left-hander Cook consistently. Then he bowled short and wide. Cook reached across to whack the ball through point. But instead of moving into him, the ball swung away.
Cook chased it and edged the ball to gully where Michael Hussey caught an excellent diving catch.
Why the commentators couldn’t see this is beyond me. They are all former great players. But they don’t seem to have much understanding of the intricate parts of the game that you’d expect great players to have.
Perhaps the problem is that they are not trained reporters. It should be remembered that Richie Benaud was a working journalist before he fronted up to the television cameras.
After the lunch break, where Fox Sports again excelled, I went to bed and listened for the rest of play. I must say that it was a joy to listen to Henry Blofeld, Jonathan Agnew and Jim Maxwell.
The pictures they painted in words were more vivid that the actual pictures coming across the screen.
It seemed to me, as the talking and excitement continued throughout the night, that the best way to watch cricket is to listen to it on the radio.
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(23)
Ben Somerford said | July 10th 2009 @ 6:45am | Report comment
I have to agree Spiro. I’m in Germany at the moment, so I can’t witness it on TV or first-hand, so I manage to tune into BBC radio and it’s fantastic. BBC is obviously slightly biased, or inclined, towards the Poms, but still the coverage is just what you want. Engaging, a bit of a laugh, but informative. To top it off, we had a great afternoon with the bat this afternoon, so those jovial English commentators a tad less, lets say, jovial.
Rob said | July 10th 2009 @ 7:20am | Report comment
Summer holidays with Alan Macgilvray (spelling?) at the opening of play and then a smoother texture to the dulcet tones after the tea break. In recent memory Kerry O’Keefe’s calling of Steve Waugh’s ton on the last ball of play brought the hair up on the back of the neck in a way that TV couldn’t.
Brett McKay said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Spiro, not doubt the SBS team would love the benefit of years working together that the Fox guys have. I’m sure they’ll improve over the series, and I’m finding Damien Martyn to be surprisingly engaging for someone who seemed do guarded when he played. And I think Stuart MacGill is doing a reasonable job in the host chair, even if he’s not so used to autocues.
There is no doubt about radio commentary though, and while I can’t really recall McGilvray, Jim Maxwell and Glenn Mitchell (and Tim Lane previously) are outstanding commentators. I’ve not seen much of Flemming on TV, but he’s very good on radio when he has stints in the ABC box. Kerry O’Keefe is a suprisingly good analyst when he runs out of jokes.
Actually, I recall Kerry telling a grouo of us a book sigining one day that ABC Cricket is designed to be listened to in the car, “even if you’re just sitting in the car in the garage by yourself, going nowhere (ahhhmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmm)”
JF said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Is the Fox Sports coverage in time with the radio, or slightly delayed like the SBS coverage?
LK said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Cricket on the radio is a natural fit. But I think SBS deserve credit for taking on the Ashes. It soaks up a great deal of primetime and it doesn’t exactly fall into their usual brief. If it was on ch 9 we wouldn’t the telecast would begin after lunch every day, with hideous lifestyle programs broadcast when the first session is on. Martyn and Matthews do ok. MacGilla maybe isn’t suited to the host position but he is getting better.
LK said | July 10th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Sorry, my bad. “If it was on Ch 9 the telecast would begin after lunch….”
Jameswm said | July 10th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
If it was on channel 9, we’d have to listen to Bill lawry and Tony Greig!!
How about starting a list of our favourite commentators, whether they be from ABC Radio, Ch 9, SBS or Fox?
Here’s mine
Host – Brendan Julian. Mark Nicholas doesn’t do it for me
COMMENTATORS
Ian Healy
Geoffrey Boycott
Damian Fleming, when he isn’t trying to promote his own sayings (corridor of uncertainty, swingologist or whatever he calls himself)
Peter Roebuck, when he doesn’t have an agenda (eg removing Ponting as captain)
Kerry O’Keeffe
Shane Warne
ANALYSTS
Mark Waugh
Who did I miss?
FIsher Price said | July 10th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Jim Maxwell. Glen Mitchell. Geoff Lawson (he doesn’t think much of Punter’s leadership neither).
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | July 10th 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
“Is the Fox Sports coverage in time with the radio, or slightly delayed like the SBS coverage?”
Don’t know, but someone who is more tech savvy than me tells me that the delay is due to the processing of the digital signal in the TV rather than a deliberate delay by the broadcaster.
JohnB said | July 10th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
I saw most of last night and about half of day 1 on SBS. I have to say I liked the Sky commentators for the most part (certainly more than the ch9 commentators as a group), with Ian Botham an exception. As I recall it, they did say Hussey’s was a really good catch (and Atherton is a working journo, or at least a very regular newspaper writer if that isn’t the same thing).
In the SBS studio, MacGill looks like he needs to do the job a bit longer, Martyn wasn’t bad and Matthews seems to have been toned down the funkyness a bit (and is much better for it for mine). Collectively, they came out with some interesting and sensible comments, and managed not to just be an Australian cheer squad. I didn’t see Hogg before day 1 – he also sounded pretty sensible in what he said before yesterday – although certainly not colourful. Maybe Fox just spend more money on it to get a smoother product?
And (while they will no doubt pale soon enough – probably tonight) those VB ads are clever and engaging!
Jameswm – you wouldn’t go too far wrong with that lineup. I haven’t heard anything of Mark Waugh so maybe Geoff Lawson in that chair? Or Warne?
Tigerface said | July 10th 2009 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
BBC radio. TV with the sound off. End of discussion. Australian TV sport is owned by advertising and mediocrity.
Worst coverage of an Olympics I’ve ever seen – Oz
Worst coverage of a cricket match – Oz
Worst coverage of a Soccer match – Oz
For a serious sports nation the networks treat the fans with contempt.
Jameswm said | July 10th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Nah I reckon Warnie is better in the comm box supporting someone else who sort of takes the lead – chiming in with the odd interesting comment. I don’t think he’s up to hosting or being the main talker.
I’m happy with Henry – Jim Maxwell is Skull’s straight guy – but I’m not a huge fan of Glen Mitchell.
Worlds Biggest said | July 10th 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
The SBS crew will take a while to gel. I am surprised Marto is on camera so interesting to see how he goes. I reckon Mo is good value and McGill will throw in some controversial stuff here and there. The Fox lads are old heads while the radio trio are just sensational to listen to. I am starting to warm up to the Ashes Series now.
GaryGnu said | July 10th 2009 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
It is not perfect but I have found one way to reduce the delay between Radio commentary and TV pictures is to select the ABC local radio channel on Foxtel (Ch 878) and tune the old analogue signal from SBS or Ch 9, as appropriate.
The audio signal is delayed as it comes through a digital process but the picture is analogue so is a little quicker.
I find it almost perfect timing for the Rugby League and pretty good for the cricket.
I recall that a Victorian uni student had developed a device that could synchronise the two. If he/she commercialises it I’ll be a certain customer.
Greg Russell said | July 10th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
David Lloyd is good. Before the start of day 1, here’s two things he said:
* “If Nathan Hauritz didn’t play in this test, then he wasn’t go to play in any test of this series. So he had to play, otherwise why select him for the tour.” (Background for those who don’t know: this will be the most spin-friendly pitch of the series.)
* “Stuart Clark hits the keeper’s gloves at 86 mph when he’s in good condition. At Worcester he was bowling at 80 mph. That’s why he’s not playing – he’s not fit enough yet.”
Two simple factual observations that were clearly expressed and explained two things that most people were scratching their heads over. Even if he didn’t say another insightful thing all day (I don’t know), he’d earned his keep even before a ball was bowled.
Pippinu said | July 10th 2009 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
I’m a big, big fan of listening to live sport on the radio – any sport, even stuff I never watch on TV I’ll listen to on the radio, if the quality of commentary is good enough, and the cricket is always great. I especially like it when they have a presenter from the rival team on either assisting with commentary or providing special comments. Remember that West Indian lass who commentated on one tour of the West Indies – now she I could listen to all day and night!!
I think the big attraction, on top of hearing plenty of good stories and analysis, is that you can have it on in the background while doing something else (washing car, gardening, painting, killing people in Quake, etc.)
Even sleeping – during the EPL season, I leave the radio on BBC all night and listen to the latest stories, some live games ,etc, coming in and out of consiousness all night long.
JohnB said | July 10th 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
Clark’s fitness was always going to be the issue, and since the powers that be have been very loath to release any injury information to the public unless absolutely forced to, something we were quite possibly not going to be told about if there was a problem. I think there have been a number of cases over the past year or so where there have been odd selections, or apparently strange on-field decisions (re bowling changes or failures to bowl particular people) and the explanation lay in an injury being covered up.
Jim Bom said | July 10th 2009 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Greg Russell is right. David Lloyd, aka Bumble, is clearly the best commentator on the Sky team. As Greg pointed out, he knows what he’s talking about, but with that broad Lancastrian accent and his little jokes and observations, he is an engaging speaker and easy on the ears.
ThelmaWrites said | July 11th 2009 @ 1:36am | Report comment
Rob
What year was that when Steve Waugh got his ton at the last ball of play? I can’t be bothered looking it up in his thick autobiography. Maybe I’d left the country when that happened. Maybe my memory is faltering.
Spiro
I was very sick in hospital in the middle ’90s. Severe nausea. I had to stay in bed a long, long time. Couldn’t get up. Cricket on radio was a godsend! The lady in the same ward with me complained to the nurse that I wasn’t friendly. The cricket was on! And I was very sick!
ThelmaWrites said | July 11th 2009 @ 1:55am | Report comment
Rob
I found it: 3 January, 2003, at the SCG, “my final Ashes Test” (in Steve’s words). I went through the pictures in his auto. Better than going through the text.
Thanks anyway.
Ian Noble said | July 12th 2009 @ 4:51am | Report comment
Spiro
Copied from another thread.
“The ABC commentary you receive in OZ with Jim Maxwell must be TMS (Test Match Special), which recently celebrated 50 years of broadcasting on the BBC. An institution loved by millions in the UK who prefer the radio commentary to TV.
A number of highlights in ther first test match, of which the most hilarious must be Aggers interview with Max Boyce and his love of cricket. His stories of Botham in pantomime, bowling at IVA Richards, you know Sir Vivian Richards boyo. and his ode to Welsh cricket and the first ashes test match in Cardiff, absolutely priceless!!
Went to watch Quins RL v Huddersfield Gaints this pm had my dab radio ear piece to keep up to date with the cricket. Can’t resist missing the banter on air and real insight on the game from the commentators as England struggle, bring on the rain!! Quins RL were awful and lost, thank god for TMS.”
TMS provides commentary of England’s Test matches, ODI and 20/20 throughout the world and there are legions in the UK who listen to the broadcast at all hours. There was a threat that the powers that be at the BBC wanted to drop TMS because they felt Sky TV was more popular. There was such an outcry they were forced to quickly change their minds. Somebody described the programme as listening to a bunch of chums discussing cricket in their sitting room. Indeed as it does tend to rain quite alot in the UK, the discussions during the weather breaks as really to be savoured.
Lewie said | July 13th 2009 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Blofeld, the wannabe Arlott, is borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring. Could care less about the seagulls or the cake ‘enry. I thank the lord that Kerry Packer came along and through glitz and glamour enticed a generation to the razzamatazz of cricket, so we could ignore the stuffiness of the upper to middle class British approach to the game.
Ian Botham, was knighted, but not for services to cricket (well if he was, he shouldn’t have been). He is a jibberer. Spent most of the first two sessions of day 1 criticising Mitchell Johnson for bowling with a scrambled seam (nothing wrong with that) but then on day three waxed lyrical about Stuart Broad doing the same thing……bizarre.
Holding still hasn’t forgiven Australia for the 5-0 thrashing they handed the Windies a few years back (“de West Indays got twendy-six bad decisions from de umpars, and Australia got just 4″…..yeah, it was the umpires Mikey).
Hussain, Gower, and Lloyd are superb. Atherton seems to be carrying some visible Ashes scars that seem to cloud his commentary.
I’ve also noticed that when there is a contentious decision that looks to have gone in England’s favour, Hawk-eye suddenly goes missing. I seem to recall something similar occurring in 2005, or perhaps the cynic in me is raising it’s ugly head…..i blame it on sleep deprivation.
Dave said | July 13th 2009 @ 5:13pm | Report comment
Holding still hasn’t forgiven Australia for the umpire not giving Ian Chappell out in 75/76
http://sportizen.blogspot.com/2008_05_04_archive.html
“…A fast bowler broke down yet again in public – this time at Sydney in 1975. Michael Holding, playing just his third Test, saw the umpire Reg Ledwidge turned down a caught behind shout off his bowling against Ian Chappell. The young Jamaican could not contain his disappointment and burst into inconsolable tears and had to be comforted by Lance Gibbs who rushed in from gully…..”