The in-game interviews are getting out of hand

In an age where illegal betting syndicates can place a bet on a game in progress over the net in the space of seconds, surely asking leading questions to players is approaching a blurry line of information integrity. Also, if the commentators were half decent, i couldn't care less what the players are thinking while batting. Never once have I wished to hear a mic'd up player when Beanud, Greigg, Lawry or the ABC grandstand radio were calling a game. Their input and analysis was enough.

To be honest, part of me was happy when Smith got out because he was being so uncharacteristically cocky in his responses to the commentators. Probably why Viraf gave him the send-off.

The Channel 9 commentators abused the privilege. The Channel 10 guys did too when they first started doing this. But they learnt. Also, players have to know that they won't be criticised if they ask for the mic to be turned off for a bit during their innings. Pietersen did that during the BBL and Channel 10 obeyed immediately. Both parties need to work together to get the best out of it. When it works, it is riveting viewing.

I can t see how people can nominate channel ten as being better ....what really p....s me of is all the boring repetitive sideline interviews asking the same stupid questions over n over ..."what do u think is a good total "? How is the pitch playing etc etc ...MEANWHILE ...there is a match going on players are taking wickets and hitting boundaries and some dismissed player is rabbitting on about just about anything ..SOMETIMES SO WAY OFF THE TOPIC ITS RIDICULOUS . Sick of KP and Flintof ass well ..another couple of serial rabbitters going on and on and on . I watched one game with Ponting and mark Waugh and Howie (whoever the ...he is ) and it was breath of fresh air their commenatary was succinct insightfull and to the point ...concentrating on the unfolding game ...never going off into rambling diatribes about days gone by etyc etc ....BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS WAS THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE NORM !

Wait, the grounds are all the same from pitch to boundary?

I agree, completely hate half time interviews they usually are pretty much Captain hindsight/ obvious remarks about what transpired and what they need to do to rectify it. I have no problems with channel 10 doing it during T20 as it was finely balanced for both parties. It was also insightful with game tactics. Channel 9 are a joke, the way JB and Slats were overhyping their own take on The Habibs. Another one from JB and Slats last night when a 6 was hit and one of them said that would be a 6 at any cricket ground around the world. When I last checked all the grounds must have the same dimensions from the pitch to the boundary. Smith didn't also need to be miked up, Marsh pulled out last minute for Scorchers 1st match of BBL.

Great article and I totally agree that the pathetic onfield interviews are cringeworthy and utterly pointless. What makes them worse is the commentators try and give the impression that they are good mates with all of the interviewees with overly familiar and often childish nicknames. It would be great if one day someone being interviewed just said 'who are you, we don't know each other and I never told you that you could call me Watto or Smithy' Sadly like so much of the local TV nowadays it is all about ratings and quality coverage has been compromised.

To be fair, I've seen the BBL guys talk to batsmen whilst they're on strike and continue to do so for what I considered far too long up to the ball being delivered. But still, the point remains. Plus I hate it. I hate all the in game interviews etc, most of it is cringe worthy...

Ryan You look at Tens coverage of the Big Bash, they are now very experienced at covering that format, while Nine did show some lack of experience last night. They were talking to Smith while he was on strike. Meanwhile the Ten commentators know when to stop pestering the batsman, especially when they are on strike. As fans, we do take Tens coverage of the BBL for granted. If anything, ten should get the rights that's anything to do with twenty/20, including internationals. There's an element of skill in playing twenty/ 20, and there's a different skill set in commentating twenty/20.

Yeah, you nailed it Riordan. It was all fine when Andrew Johns was playing for New South Wales at the start of the decade; but now that T20 is an established format the gimmicky stuff needs to take a back seat. While both 9 and 10 are giving the viewers insight, there is a stark thematic difference, Almost everything Channel 10 have done with the BBL has been to put the cricket and the cricketers first, while Channel 9's obsession is with itself; and it will, eventually cost it.

Just another reason not to watch this joke they call a sport (classify: T20, not cricket, love cricket) It's reality TV, that is all.

I dont blame the commentators at all, i blame Smith. He is a grown man who agreed to being miced up and agreed to talk. There is no way that he would have been punished in any way for saying no to the mic or for telling the commentators on air just to shh until the end of each over. Its not like he is playing badly or his position or captaincy is under threat, he holds all the cards. Yes the talking almost certainly was partly responsible for his dismissal but he could have said shh very easily. He obviously had no problem with talking until he got out, he was batting nicely and got himself out.

Completely agree. With a few exceptions, I quite like the Channel 9 commentary team, and it's coverage. However, I'll never understand how or why players are allowed to talk to the media while a game is still going on. Even interviews after a batsman has been dismissed are perplexing. The last thing I'd wanna do after being given out is talk to a reporter, The scourge has popped up in other sports too. Interviewing AFL players as they walk down the race at half time is such a waste. If I was their coach, I'd ban any half time interviews. The game's not over, and while they might get a rest, players still need to focus on the task at hand. Three words: Get rid of.

Ch 9's dismissal of Smith triggered the collapse. Then add in the King of jibber, James Brayshaw and the shameless promotion of "Here Come the Habibs", Ch 9 should be seriously reassessing the so called commentary team -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

Ch 9 need to have a look at their peers on ch 10 to see how it's done. As above AlanKC, Smith was deceived by the inanity.

And lets not forget the classic from "slats": "Where do you reckon you'll hit the next one?" To which the reply was "Depends where he bowls it". Rivetting stuff.

Channel Nine commentary has been ruining matches for fans for years, now they're ruining it for players too - the sooner they lose the rights the better.