Alison Mitchell will become the first woman to commentate ball-by-ball on Australian cricket this summer after confirming she had signed on with Channel Seven today.
Seven, alongside Fox Sports, signed a new six-year deal to broadcast Australian cricket starting this summer, with the network to cover all Test matches, 43 Big Bash League matches and all women’s international matches.
Mitchell is a well-respected commentator and has called cricket both at home in England and away in India, Australia and Sri Lanka.
The announcement from Seven today also confirms Mel McLaughlin will co-host the Test cricket alongside James Brayshaw, who has been with Seven for some time covering the AFL.
Brayshaw will then double as a ball-by-ball commentator, with the free-to-air network also using Tim Lane as their third caller for Test matches.
While it had already been announced Seven had secured the signatures of Michael Slater, Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming, it’s been confirmed this morning that Jason Gillespie, Simon Katich, Brad Hodge and Greg Blewett will all join the team.
Gillespie will feature as an expert for the Adelaide Test against India, while Katich will cover both Sydney and Melbourne. Brad Hodge will join Seven as a Big Bash League expert.
Seven have also found a role for long-term broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, who will conduct interviews during the lunch break of both the Sydney and Melbourne Tests.
The announcement from Seven gives a much clearer picture of their team for the upcoming summer. Fox Sports, on the other hand, have also signed female talent with Isa Guha and Mel Jones on board. They are joined by long-term Fox Sports broadcaster Mark Waugh, along with former Aussie wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Allan Border and Brendon Julian.
More announcements are expected soon from Fox Sports, given they have a huge summer of cricket to broadcast including every international fixture, a number of exclusive BBL games and all of the women’s international cricket and WBBL.
The broadcasters have announced they will have separate commentary teams on each match being broadcast.
Dreaming Rugby
Roar Rookie
Surely the time is coming where we can choose our own commentators for sporting events. Is someone working on this technology.
Johnnp
Guest
Why have they mostly cut the oldies guys eg chappelli, ian healy, tubby,mark Nicholas? Also why is Brendan Julian not lead host but gilchrist is. BJ has done the fox sports cricket head thing for years and is same age as Gilly. so no generational issues there.
Paul
Roar Guru
I listen to Alison Mitchell commentate in last seasons Ashes and she was simply terrific. Bear in mind she was working with guys like Boycott, Hussein, Swann and Vaughan, all people with really strong opinions, yet she had no trouble making her points and most importantly, they respected what she was saying. As for the rest of the commentary team, looks good because they've largely ditched the channel 9 crew. I don't expect them to get the formula right at their first go, but they have some very good people to work with, so should be a welcome change from what we've been served from 9 in recent years.
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Can Ch7 get some proper Cricket commentators and NOT the AFL ones?
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Mark Nicholas was one of the good Ch9 commentators I thought. He anchored well and he learnt the art of commentary from the doyen Richie Benaud. I think he was dragged down a little by the other commentators, so I will definitely miss Mark when Brayshaw starts speaking
jamesb
Guest
"The announcement from Seven today also confirms Mel McLaughlin will co-host the Test cricket alongside James Brayshaw" https://www.theroar.com.au/2014/01/24/should-mel-mclaughlin-replace-mark-nicholas-at-channel-nine/comment-page-5/
Reece
Guest
So we go from Nicholas hosting to Mel McLaughlin and James Brayshaw? Gee what a winner there. And i won't be watching the lunch breaks with Mcavaney hosting it.
JBe
Guest
That is not an awful team, although I agree with the reservations about Brayshaw and Kati. I might actually tune in. Lisa Sthaleka would be a good addition.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Absolutely agree on the touring commentators. It adds colour and does get the Australian commentators to behave a bit more.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Lisa Sthalekar, for example. I seem to remember her doing some good stints on the ABC.
Lion Down Under
Guest
Brayshaw and, to a lesser extent, McAvaney are the only horrors there. I know they already work for Ch7 but no-one wants to see or hear Brayshaw near cricket (or the Olympics) ever again. If they pair Slater up well and tell him to forget everything he ever did at Ch9 I'd hope he could become the excellent commentator he was on Ch4 in the UK. Talking of which I hope Ch7 revive the tradition of having one, or even two, commentators from the touring side. Adds a different perspective and stops the "matesiest mates who ever mated" Aussie boys club nonsense that Ch9 descended into.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
Last time that I listened to James 'unbelievable' Brayshaw was back a few years ago. WHen I listened to his commentary during the summer at Nine, Brayshaw continued to spout Australian propaganda and it annoyed me so much. The biggest problem when Channel 9 had the rights was James Brayshaw - doesn't shut up when there is facing delivery, saying 'unbelievable' over and over again, asking Mark Taylor's, Ian Chappell's opinions and his fake gravelly laugh. More people are fed up with his commentary when he was at the Nine network, but when he is at 7, some people might stop watching their coverage and subscribe to Fox. Brayshaw must have lost concentration when commentating.
Don
Roar Rookie
It’ll be interesting to listen to the 7 team and whether Slater can go back to the style he started out with before Ch9 turned their cricket broadcast into a 8 hour episode of the footy show. When Slater started commentating in England he was reserved and articulate. I’m still hoping that someone signs Michael Holding too.
Damo
Guest
Most of the list is fine, very happy with Mel and Alison but Brayshaw gets one single chance with me, just one.
steggz
Roar Rookie
Main negatives are Brayshaw, Katich and possibly Hodge. Slater could be good if he isn't expected to play a role like 9 asked him to.
Bakkies
Guest
Mitchell can handle it. She has commentated with the likes of Boycs and Phil Tufnell. Foxsports have also signed an English female commentator she did the Triple M coverage with Skull.
jamesb
Guest
Would like to see a few Australian female commentators.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Would be good to add one or two more. There are a few good retired female cricketers around Australia who've actually shown they can do well in the commentary booth. Would be good to have a couple more, if for no other reason than to help break up the boys club feel that has become the norm of late.
jamesb
Guest
So i am assuming that Taylor, Healy, Clarke and Nicholas miss out altogether. Chappeli also misses out, but he is in his mid seventies.