Why it’s so hard to master the art of being a cricket commentator: ‘Always prepare for the worst-case scenario’

Like pretty much every aspect of cricket, commentating is an art that some people master naturally while others work hard to become adept behind the microphone.

And some people just never make the grade.

Cricket commentating, on TV and radio, has evolved rapidly in the past couple of decades as the use of better technology, analytics and an expectation of better insight have had a dramatic effect.

A generation ago, TV commentators would draw free-hand squiggles on the screen and now we have expert operators using touch-screens to bring a 360-degree of the action.

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Technology has its downside though. The social media era means commentators get instant feedback – usually of the derogatory kind – in all sports. Cricket, with its easy-paced rhythm of gaps between balls, overs and sessions, allows plenty of time for viewers/listeners to vent their spleen. 

Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell and Bill Lawry in 2013. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

There’s often a nostalgia for yesteryear when it comes to cricket commentators, particularly when it comes to TV in Australia, where Channel Nine’s long-term foursome of Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Tony Greig and Ian Chappell stood the test of time when Kerry Packer revolutionised the game and its coverage in the late 1970s. 

Benaud famously set the standard for professionalism and delivery, Lawry brought genuine joy for the game, Greig gave the outsider’s perspective as he flew the flag for whoever was playing Australia while Chappell delivered blunt appraisals of anyone who he deemed was not up to standard. 

But as great as those legitimate legends were, they were not perfect. Their knowledge of foreign players in particular was often limited, even after pay-TV brought overseas cricket not involving Australian teams to our screens. 

Benaud, despite being the oldest of the quartet, had the deepest knowledge of overseas players by virtue of his decades spent commentating for the BBC in England during Australian winters. 

The standout commentator these days is undoubtedly Ricky Ponting. 

His ability to read a game from two decades as a player and then captain at the elite level has translated into the commentary box, which is not necessarily a given.

Some players, who were expert leaders and master tacticians, struggle to bring that insight to the fans when they’re behind a microphone.

Ponting’s greatest skill is telling the viewers what he thinks will happen, or what should happen, rather than what has already happened.

It’s the embodiment of Benaud’s often-stated theory that there’s no point saying anything unless it’s adding to what the camera is already showing. 

His iconic description of Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century in 1993 to a bemused Mike Gatting is the perfect example of Benaud’s brilliance. 

As an old leg-spinner and defender of the mystical art, the inner Richie would have loved to have screamed in delight at seeing his protege producing such an exceptional delivery with his first ball in an Ashes Test.

Even if you don’t play the YouTube video, the iconic commentary will echo in the mind of any cricket fan.

“And he’s done it,” Benaud enthuses as soon as the prodigious leg break clips the off bail, before pausing for a few seconds as the smattering of Australian fans at Old Trafford start cheering while Ian Healy and teammates engulf Warne. 

“He’s started off with the most beautiful delivery.” Another pause for vision of Gatting to look over his shoulder for some sort of guidance from the umpire, who responded by motioning him to keep walking to the pavilion. 

“Gatting has absolutely no idea what has happened to it. He still doesn’t know … He asked Kenny Palmer on the way out. Kenny Palmer just gave him a raised eyebrow and a little nod and that’s all it needed.”

And that’s all it needed from Benaud to sum up the situation.

For modern cricket commentators, it’s a tougher gig when any time you slip up, there is an army of critics who have the power at their fingertips to magnify your error on their preferred social media platform. 

And there’s a tone required for three formats. Big Bash League commentators on Ten initially and Seven in recent years have been bashed big time for bringing too much levity to the broadcast with off-topic conversations rather than match analysis. 

Damien Fleming chats with fellow commentators Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting. (Photo by Scott Barbour – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images)

After representing his country 108 times in Tests and ODIs from 1994-2001, former fast bowler Damien Fleming has expertly blended his humour and analytical skills, particularly on the vagaries of swing bowling, as a commentator.

“It’s not unlike playing. I find I’ve got to prepare so much for every game and then analyse every session. Was I a bit boring there? Oh that worked really well. Going into a session, what’s going to be my plan?” he told The Roar. 

“If the play’s a bit boring and you’re on radio, I’m going to have some stories.

“You generally don’t get a lot of training. It’s learning on the job. When I was on ABC Radio early on it was hard talking around the ball-by-ball (caller) and you can’t actually physically see anyone so you’ve got to have that rapport with your other commentator so that comes through. You don’t always click with everyone but you’ve got to make it work.

“There’s nothing like time on the job. I’ve been really fortunate commentating with a lot of ex-teammates, which helps, and then getting some real diversity. I went overseas a lot early just to get hours up, to be honest.”

He says one of the hardest aspects is being able to get the tone right when you’re switching between radio and TV, the three formats, international and domestic cricket. 

World Series Cricket maestro Kerry Packer and England player Tony Greig chatting in 1979. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images)

“In Test cricket you’ve got a bit more time to set up the how, why but with Big Bash we’ve got a lot of set plays and Ricky Ponting’s the best at talking about what’s going to happen, predicting,” he said.

“And that’s the real winner as a commentator if you can predict a wicket that’s going to happen or a shot.

“Certainly I had a game plan when I was a player and there are things I need to do to get in the right frame of mind to commentate, and that’s preparation and research. I don’t want to go in and not know a player at all – you’ve got to know the way they play, where they score their runs, how they get out, where they take wickets, what’s their bad ball. 

“You’ve just got to know your routines. Some people can just rock in and do it but that’s not for me. You’re constantly trying to keep updated, talk to as many current players as you can, bounce ideas off other commentators.

“When it’s your time to shine, you want to be fully prepared. You don’t always use what you’ve got up your sleeve because there can be a flurry of wickets or a lot happening but you always prepare for the worst-case scenario.”