Channel Seven and Cricket Australia’s spat has been ongoing for so long now that some doubt whether the fractured relationship can be fully repaired in time for next summer’s cricket season.
Channel Seven has been seeking a price reduction on their reported annual $70 million contribution to the broadcast deal with Foxtel in the shadow of the pandemic and has more recently launched action in the Federal Court over schedule changes to the 2020-21 cricket fixture.
The relationship has become so strained that Nine newspapers reported this week Cricket Australia had considered formally sounding out the chances of a reunion with Channel Nine had Channel Seven declined to pay its latest fee instalment, which the broadcaster eventually did.
(Steven Paston – EMPICS/Getty Images)
Informal talks have reportedly stopped, but if the opportunity were to arise, Channel Nine would be silly not to bid for the rights. Cricket is a natural drawcard, and summer on the station could feature both the cricket and the Australian Open tennis. It could also assist part-owned streaming service Stan to get its sports arm off the ground with more subscriptions.
But if Nine were to create more advertising and subscription possibilities, it must move with the times. Of course the broadcaster would prize Test matches as a major drawcard as well as ODIs and T20s as integral parts of the Australian cricket calendar, but the BBL and WBBL will be crucial in bringing in women and children who are the future of the game.
Channel Nine’s cricket commentary team in the 1980s and during the height of World Series Cricket were considered cricket’s best coach, an educational forum for young and old to learn about the game. But its cricket coverage descended fast into something resembling dressing room chat between mates, becoming less about the analysis of the game in the process
If Nine were to return to its golden era, it must introduce a new commentary team for both the BBL and international matches.
The first signature Nine must go after is Adam Collins. Collins is an esteemed freelance cricket writer who calls Test cricket for SEN radio in Australia and appears on BBC Test Match Special in the UK. Collins has Bill Lawry qualities and an excitable voice with the ability to say the right things at the right time.
Cricket commentary has gone down the path of packing the booth with past players, whether they be expert analysts or ball-by-ball callers, like Adam Gilchrist on Fox Sports. But as the old saying goes, not every good player makes a good commentator.
The second signature would be Shane Warne. The way Warne analyses the game is second to none, and in his recent autobiography, No Spin, he said, “I’d never have left Nine but cricket is in my blood and I love commentating so much that there was no option”.
The other commentators Nine should sign to make itself the home of cricket for years to come include Mel Jones, Lisa Sthalekar, Michael Slater, Ian Healy, Matthew Hayden, Mark Nicholas, Geoff Lemon, Danny Morrison, Brendon McCullum, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Elyse Perry, Gideon Haigh, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch and Tim Paine.
The future of Australian cricket lies in the hands of the broadcaster, and if Cricket Australia were to switch partners and Nine were willing to change its 40-year philosophy for the next 40 years, the future would look very bright indeed.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
I think Warne is the best so there you go. for insight into the game he is peerless, might have something to do with getting a few test wickets? and to recommend someone because he is like Lawry.. never said an interesting thing in his loooong career (wasn't he guaranteed a job for life by packer which is why we had to suffer for decades?)
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
disagree.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
are you kidding me,slater is a very good commentator,as for healy he always carries on kike pork chop.
Ace
Roar Rookie
there are some good names there , in terms of commentating, but Healy , Slater and Morrison are not some of them. That's why you have the volume turned down. Nicholas and McCullum would add. Mel Jones yes. Alyssa Healy is a laughs so in
Micko
Roar Rookie
There's better kiwi commentators like Ian Smith and Bryan Waddell.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
Ok there will always be options about commentators. One who I can not ever warm to is Brayshaw. His incessant use of AFL references and Adelaide Oval, Perth, Marsh brothers worship must mean they have to wash the booth out after he is finished.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
My worry is when the tail wags the dog. Test cricket is test drawcard in Australia and a valuable addition to any broadcaster's portfolio. But with broadcasters wanting to maximise their return there is pressure to produce wickets that ensure 5 days of play - leading to roads and boring tests. Last test was over in three days but an enjoyable one.
Tony
Roar Guru
There needs to be a minimum IQ cut off. Say 80. That solves most of the problems.
Tony
Roar Guru
Warne's fine if you're having funny hat day
Jarijari7
Danny Morrison? Will get a lot of no votes for him.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I'm probably a bit younger than you Kalva... RB was a true great, but by the time I started watching, as a whole they were a bunch of...
Phil
Roar Rookie
The worst commentators I've experienced as a viewer are Warne and Nicholas. Warne wants his voice heard above all else whether he's talking up his ego or talking up cricket. Nicholas used to send me to sleep with his dreary monotone voice. He's someone who is probably more suited to the BBC in Old Blighty. Tut, tut, jolly good show old chap.
Brian
Guest
To be fair I remember Lawry would always quip, he's a good player this lad he can hit both sides of the wicket
Brian
Guest
Slater was actually ok before he joined Nine when he did Fox. However when he joined Nine he was terrible.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I recall “one gem” from Slater. “It’s the job of the openers to give their team a good start”. Really! Best of the female commentators by far is Alison Mitchell. Some of the others have benefited from the gender allocation rather than ability.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Yes! Got him! Wucken beausty that delivery!
Paul
Roar Guru
Great piece Macca - except for the second last paragraph. You're right on the money when you suggest we need to get the actual commentating right, but I'd suggest CA in conjunction with Channel 7/Foxtel needs to define exactly what they want from those commentating on the game THEN try and find people who can fit that brief. I've done hundreds of recruitment exercises in my career and have always had an outline of what the job entails as well as a series of criteria I expect applicants to meet. In cricket broadcasting, there only seems to be 2 criteria - have played rep cricket for a country and be able to talk ad nauseum about anything including the cricket. I don't think it would be hard to write a job description or an expectations statement for this role. I might even do that on Boxing Day while NOT listening to Shane Warne. Thanks for the idea, Macca. :happy:
Marty
Roar Rookie
Ian Healy makes me want to throw a brick through the TV. He offers no analysis or insight, just makes really obvious and simple observations that most 10 year olds could manage ‘that’s not good enough at this level’ ‘if they held their catches they’d be in a better position in the game’ etc etc.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
To be fair, they were an education to this kid trying to learn about cricket..the first few times, I heard Ian Chappell talk about tactics and needing to gamble to win was interesting. By the mid 80s, it became a bit tiresome. But they concentrated on the game going on and didn't go on and on about what they ate that morning or other BS. Frank Tyson doesn't get much attention but he was a huge part of that team
Rob Peters
Guest
None of the former Nine commentators should come back except for Chappelli. Not Healy, Taylor, Slater or Nicholas. Not even Warne. Richie knew the art of silence. He'd only speak on a subject if someone asked him a question. With Warne we hear his mouth, whether we need to, or not. I'd rather bring in someone like David Gower to "captain" the commentary team. The others I'd like to see in the ball by ball commentary are Allan Border, Mike Haysman, and Elyse Perry. I'd have a pre game, lunch and after days play/game wrap up analysis with Geoff Lemon, Gideon Haigh, Robert Crash Craddock and Mike Coward. At least they all have some maturity and are respected. Tired of the yobbo and larrikin behaviour.