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…..”

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

* “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.

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.

I’m happy with Henry – Jim Maxwell is Skull’s straight guy – but I’m not a huge fan of Glen Mitchell.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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)”