No one can accuse SBS of playing it safe in its choice of commentators for the Ashes. The free-to-air broadcaster has called up some former Test mavericks to ensure some lively coverage for the five-Test series.
Stuart MacGill will play the hosting role in the Sydney studio and will be joined by Greg Matthews and Damien Martyn.
The outspoken Rodney Hogg will be the man on the ground with SBS putting together a one-hour highlights program from 5pm (AEST) on the previous day’s play.
The live commentary feed will be taken from England’s Sky Sports, whose team includes Shane Warne, Ian Botham, David Gower, Michael Atherton and Michael Holding.
FoxSports will tap into the same feed but will also broadcast a one-hour pre-game show from 7pm (AEST) each night.
FoxSports will have the familiar faces of former Australian cricketers Allan Border, Mark Waugh, Brendon Julian, Greg Blewett and Damien Fleming sharing their views.
For those unable to watch it on the box, the ABC has again put together a quality commentary team in cahoots with the BBC.
Recently-retired Test opener Matthew Hayden is a star addition to the line-up that also includes the likes of Jason Gillespie and Phil Tufnell.
jamie
Guest
our bowlers can't swing the ball that's the problem! Mitch will get wickets, I've been in the shit situation he is in now with confidence but now i've kicked it and would kick most peoples a!! but to hear holding talk about bowlers confidence is a joke as he was not only a part of a gun bowling side but even if he was somewhat fragile my mum and m marshall or a roberts would have kicked him to the kerb!
Paul Green
Guest
Well, here we are.Second last day of play. 2 down and i'm feeling a tad jumpy after mustering all my belief for a gutsy fight-back.Not being pleased with the first 2wickets falling the way they did, i decided to go to the fridge. I can hear a mad appeal in the background. Thinks to myself, that's ok the poms are appealing for the practise, they dont get to do it often. I come back in. Ponting's gone. I didnt see the wicket fall. A short while later, 4 down !!! Come on this is bullshit, says me.4 down, ive only seen 3 fall and all were NOT OUT ! Fair enough, the poms are outplaying us at the moment. BUT !!!!!! Do they really need 2 umpires in their team as well ? If i was Ponting, i'm sure i'd come close to saying " Jam it up your arse, i'm going to the pub ! "
Gonzo
Guest
I am in total agreement with Alan and Sparry here. SBS made a very bad choice when they chose MacGill as MC. Not only is he a poor presenter per se, since he looks like he happened to be back stage when the professional MC went sick, but he is the most biased individual I have ever seen or heard in that role. He spends most of his time on air (and in his bigoted columns) slating England. England have been pretty appalling, it is true, but it is not within the remit of a failed test cricketer to continually criticize and mock the 'other' team, especially with that malicious sneer. SBS, shop around next time.
Sparry
Guest
Can't agree more with Alan - McGill is shocking, but I always suspected that, looking at that permanent sneer.
Alan
Roar Rookie
Stuart McGill - what a smarmy and sarcastic individual; no wonder his colleagues thought he was an arse. Greg Matthews seems as dense as a black hole with Damien Martyn, who has obviously run out of money, the only redeeming feature of SBS's abysmal effort last night. the volume will be off tonight and I'll opt for ABC commentary unless I stream BBC radio which is the best of the lot. The Sky coverage is pretty good too and at least the mainly-English commentary team isn't as one-eyed and condescending as McGill et al.
Midfielder
Guest
Good on em ... sounds like a great team
JohnB
Guest
Plus they won't be flogging betting services, photos and so-called memorabilia during the call. Or at least I hope they won't be. And what's the bet (terrific players though they both were) that Matt Hayden is as dull as Justin Langer on the radio. Always strikes me as very risky to have very recent ex-players in the commentary box - they'll seldom do anything but gush over their former teammates which soon wears thin.
Gaff
Guest
God bless SBS. I'm looking forward to a change from the Channel 9 commentry team. It's going to be a struggle as it is to stay awake and watch as much of this series as I can - thankfully the chappel brothers wont be commentating to bore me to sleep.
Jameswm
Guest
I always liked Boycott - what's happened to him?
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
How unfortunate that Australian viewers must also put up with the ghastly Sky Sports chappies. They are a horribly lower middle-class bunch. The boorish Botham sets the bar at a minimal height and all the other fellows - even the Cambridge-educated Atherton - do their best to clamber under it. The great shame is that there are several ex-cricketing intellectuals knocking about - not least Ed Smith - but Sky doesn't seem the least bit interested in them.